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Pregnant women in Gaza are living in an unrelenting nightmare. These women’s lives are being shattered again, having to move for a sixth or seventh time as they live atop rubble and sand, plagued by hunger and pain. They and their families are crammed into increasingly smaller and overcrowded areas where infrastructure is dwindling and basic necessities are scarce. Everything, from shelter to food, sanitation, and clean water is in short supply and unaffordable, intensifying their suffering. It is easy to feel powerless in the face of such a crisis. But we must collectively resist that urge — because it’s not too late to make a difference in the lives of these women. UNFPA has been on the ground in Gaza long before conflict erupted last year, and we have continued to deliver humanitarian aid to pregnant women and those who need it — even as it has become increasingly difficult and dangerous to do so. Our work, fueled by gifts from individual donors, has made a difference. We have supported more than half of all births in Gaza in the past 9 months through lifesaving equipment, supplies, and medicines. “The reproductive health kits play a major role in ensuring the safety of women,” Dr. Khawla from Gaza tells us. Your donations help fund these critical packages, which support emergency cesarean sections, treatment for rape, and family planning. “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.”
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. Sincerely,
Anu Surendran |
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