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Some UN agencies are now saying that northern Gaza is now in “full-blown famine.” For months, experts have been sounding the alarm that 2.2 million people in Gaza were on the brink of famine. Now, an estimated one in six children under two years old in Gaza are acutely malnourished. New mothers are not getting enough food to nurse their newborns. Babies are born too weak to even cry. People in Gaza are growing desperate, turning to scavenged scraps of rotten corn, animal fodder unfit for human consumption, and even leaves.
With a lack of healthcare availability, limited resources, and overwhelming demand, mothers and babies are in urgent need. But a glimmer of hope has emerged thanks to humanitarian gifts. UNFPA has supported 20,000+ births in Gaza with lifesaving equipment, supplies, and medicines for obstetric emergencies.
“The reproductive health kits play a major role in ensuring the safety of women,” says Dr. Khawla of the now-destroyed Nasser Hospital in Gaza. “The kits contain many essential items which were in severe shortage. When we have a shortage, it limits the number of operations that can be performed.” “When kits like these are available, it’s feasible for a doctor to make urgent decisions when treating women. These kits contain all life-saving requirements for women, including for obstetric surgery and complications. They contain disinfectant solutions and drugs which are used as anesthesia for C-sections to induce births.” The sad reality is that donations have slowed down, putting our ability to continue delivering sustained humanitarian aid to Gaza at serious risk.
We condemn the violence in Gaza, the West Bank, and Israel, and echo the UN Secretary-General’s call for a sustained humanitarian ceasefire and the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages by Hamas. The suffering must end and peace must prevail. Thank you for being there for women and girls. Sincerely,
Anu Surendran |
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