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Al Mayadeen's correspondent: Two were martyred in an initial toll of the Israeli drone strike that targeted the al-Asira neighborhood in the city of Baalbek, eastern Lebanon
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: An Israeli drone strike targeted the al-Asira neighborhood east of Baalbek, eastern Lebanon
Sheikh Naim Qassem to the pager attack survivors: You are the greatest resistance. Know that 'Israel' will fall because it embodies aggression, crime, and occupation; victory is truly yours
Sheikh Qassem to the pager attack survivors: The value of what you are doing despite your wounds is immense, and here you are, treading the path of the Master of Nation's Martyrs and the leaders
Sheikh Qassem to the pager attack survivors: You are moving forward with insight deeper than sight itself. The enemy sought to eliminate your role in the battle, yet you remain steadfast and continue the fight
Hezbollah Secretary-General Sheikh Naim Qassem to the pager attack survivors one year later: You are healing from your wounds and rising above them. You have successfully passed the test
Palestinian media: Reports of stabbing operation in occupied al-Quds.
Israeli media: Sirens blare in Arava in South, near Ramon Airport.
Egyptian PM Mostafa Madbouli: Egypt is targeted in plans to redraw regional map
AEOI Chief Mohammad Eslami: Our presence in IAEA General Council and fact-checking helped in preventing unilateral rhetoric that aims to portray Iran as an unregulated country

Childbirth in Gaza: Once joyous occasion, now struggle for survival

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: The Lancet
  • 25 Oct 2024 15:50
  • 1 Shares
3 Min Read

International physicians working alongside local Palestinian healthcare workers have documented the breakdown of Gaza’s healthcare infrastructure during medical missions, as per The Lancet.

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  • Asser and Aysal Abu al-Qumsan were killed when they were four days old. (Muhammad Abu al-Qumsan)
    Asser and Aysal Abu al-Qumsan were killed when they were four days old (Muhammad Abu al-Qumsan)

A recent report by The Lancet has underscored the severe humanitarian crisis unfolding in Gaza due to the ongoing Israeli military offensive, which has triggered widespread famine and a drastic decline in maternal health services, profoundly affecting the well-being of pregnant women and children. 

The report highlighted that the near-total collapse of Gaza's healthcare system, coupled with restricted access to essential medical services, has resulted in a tragic surge in preventable maternal and neonatal deaths.

Gaza's silent crisis: Maternal health in the crosshairs of Israeli genocide

International physicians working alongside local Palestinian healthcare workers have documented the breakdown of Gaza’s healthcare infrastructure during medical missions, as per the report.

They reported as cited by The Lancet that what was once a celebratory event—childbirth—has now become a struggle for survival. Prenatal care is nearly nonexistent, and the incidence of premature labor has surged, often due to the chronic stress associated with displacement, malnutrition, and the trauma of relentless airstrikes.

With hospitals overwhelmed by mass casualties, many maternity wards, according to the report, have become non-functional, forcing some women to give birth in unsanitary conditions without the assistance of midwives or doctors.

This reproductive crisis is not merely a consequence of military actions but a deliberate outcome of policies that restrict access to healthcare, the report added.

Israeli blockade turns pregnancy into a life-threatening experience

The Lancet warned that the targeting of maternity hospitals and the blockade limiting essential medical supplies—including anesthetics and maternity kits—have transformed pregnancy into a life-threatening experience for thousands of women.

Reports from local physicians in Gaza reveal an alarming rise in maternal deaths, miscarriages, and stillbirths. Additionally, many pregnant women are suffering from malnutrition, which exacerbates these tragic outcomes. Without access to adequate nutrition and healthcare, they endure pregnancies under conditions that challenge human dignity, as per the report.

The Lancet concluded by highlighting that the Israeli blockade, now in its second decade and tightened further in recent months, has intensified the suffering of the residents of Gaza, revealing dire implications for future generations.

The prevention of births in Gaza, as per the report, is not simply collateral damage; it constitutes a violation of international law and highlights the structural Israeli violence inflicted upon the population.

  • Gaza newborns
  • Gaza genocide
  • Israeli occupation
  • Israeli blockade
  • pregnant women
  • Israeli genocide
  • Gaza’s healthcare infrastructure
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