50,000 pregnant women in Gaza living 'nightmares' under shelling

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: CNN
15 Oct 2023 17:37

Around 5,000 of the 50,000 pregnant women are supposed to give birth next month while some could face complications in the process.

Palestinian children wounded are brought to al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City on October 11, 2023. (AP)

The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) representative for the state of Palestine, Dominic Allen, stated that the 50,000 pregnant women in Gaza are suffering a "nightmare" situation as healthcare in the Strip is on the edge of collapsing.

During an interview for CNN on Sunday, Allen said, "They're facing unthinkable challenges," adding that around 5,000 of the 50,000 pregnant women are supposed to give birth next month while some could face complications in the process.

"Imagine going through that process in those final stages and your last trimester before giving birth, with possible complications, without clothing, without hygiene, support, and not sure about what the next day, next hour, next minute will bring for themselves and for their unborn child," Allen said.

#AlMayadeen's correspondent in #Gaza said medical crews are using ice cream freezers to keep the bodies of martyrs in the Strip in light of the unjust siege that encompasses everything, stressing that all the martyrs arriving at hospitals are civilians. #GazaUnderAttack… pic.twitter.com/5HDNKciOZo
— Al Mayadeen English (@MayadeenEnglish) October 14, 2023

He expressed that the stories heard of the agonies in the hospitals are "harrowing".

A midwife at a Gazan maternity hospital relayed to Allen that as of last week, many midwives have found it difficult to even reach the maternity ward as a result of the constant shelling, especially on hospitals and civilian infrastructures.

"Humanitarian aid and supplies to Gaza must be allowed through. There must be a humanitarian corridor opened, and humanitarian law abided by. The pregnant women must therefore get access to those lifesaving health services," he continued.

#AlMayadeen's correspondent also reported that hospitals are at full capacity and can no longer tend to more patients.#Palestine #Gaza #GazaUnderAttack pic.twitter.com/hLZdvabEcY
— Al Mayadeen English (@MayadeenEnglish) October 14, 2023

Hospitals have become graveyards

Hospitals in Gaza have become a main target of IOF strikes, and according to Dr. Ghassan Abu-Sittah, a surgeon who recently arrived in the Gaza Strip from the UK to assist in humanitarian efforts, 30-40% of hospital entries are children.

As of yesterday, Al Mayadeen's correspondent reported that the Israeli occupation forces have also ordered the medical teams at al-Quds Hospital to evacuate its staff and patients from the facility in preparation for an impending bombardment.

Meanwhile, today, the chief of Nurses and Nursing Supervisor of al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in Gaza Strip, Khalil al-Dakran, warned of the complete collapse of the health sector across the Strip as "Israel" continues its genocidal bombing of residential buildings, medical crews, and infrastructure in Gaza.

In a statement to Al Mayadeen, al-Dakran said, "The quantities of fuel available in Gaza hospitals are sufficient for limited hours," warning that hospitals will be out of service due to fuel shortage, indicating a health disaster in the Strip.

This comes as the Israeli ground invasion, initially scheduled for the weekend, was postponed for a few days, primarily due to adverse weather conditions that would have complicated the task of Israeli pilots and drone operators providing air support to ground forces, The New York Times reported, citing three senior Israeli military officials who provided non-classified information about the operation.

The Israeli military is preparing for a forthcoming invasion of the Gaza Strip. Tens of thousands of troops have been directed "to take control of Gaza City," as per the report.