Amidst urgent international calls for a ceasefire, the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has reported nearly 20,000 births since the start of the widespread Israeli bombardment in response to Hamas-led attacks, resulting in approximately 1,200 deaths and 250 individuals taken hostage.
The humanitarian situation in Gaza has reached dire levels due to chronic aid access problems. Caesarean sections have been performed without anesthesia, and women have struggled to deliver stillborn babies as medical staff are overwhelmed, according to UNICEF Communications Specialist Tess Ingram.
In addition to the immediate challenges of childbirth, UN World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus expressed alarm over confirmed cases of hepatitis A infections in Gaza. The inhumane living conditions, including a lack of clean water and toilets, contribute to the further spread of disease, Tedros warned.
The latest WHO data reveals alarming statistics, with an average of 500 people sharing one toilet and over 2,000 people forced to use a single shower, increasing the risk of disease transmission. Cases of upper respiratory infections and diarrhea among children under five have surged, being 26 times higher than the same period in the previous year.
WHO spokesperson Tarik Jasarevic highlighted the urgent need for medical assistance, emphasizing that many in Gaza, especially those injured and bombarded, require immediate medical help. Medical facilities, such as the Nasser Medical Complex in Khan Younis, are struggling, with a significant reduction in medical staff and resources.
UNICEF has taken steps to assist vulnerable women and children in Gaza by delivering milk formula, supplements for mothers unable to breastfeed, and medical supplies for overwhelmed medical teams. However, the situation remains critical.
The UN human rights office (OHCHR) expressed deep concern over reports of nearly 25,000 people killed in Gaza, with 70% believed to be women and children. The UN aid coordination office (OCHA) reiterated the challenges in providing effective relief missions in Gaza due to Israeli restrictions on critical equipment imports.
As the crisis continues, displaced people arriving in Rafah face harsh conditions, described by the head of the UN Human Rights Office in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, Ajith Sunghay, as a massive human rights crisis and a major humanitarian disaster. The ongoing telecommunications blackout further adds to the chaos and fear, preventing access to essential services and evacuation information. Gaza desperately needs an immediate scaling up of humanitarian aid to address the pressing protection and medical needs of its population.
Footnotes: Picture © UNICEF/Eyad El Baba Babies are fed at Al-Shifa hospital in northern Gaza.