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