Gaza Strip, October 7, 2023 – The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) disclosed a distressing situation on Sunday, revealing that approximately 50,000 pregnant women in the Gaza Strip are currently unable to access fundamental healthcare services.
The UNFPA underscored the struggles faced by expectant mothers in their efforts to secure basic maternal healthcare, with a staggering 5,500 of them anticipated to give birth this very month. This revelation exposes the dire state of maternal health in the region.
Dominic Allen, the UNFPA’s representative for Palestine, shared these disconcerting findings in an interview with CNN. Allen emphasized that the healthcare system in Gaza is in a state of crisis, teetering on the edge of collapse due to the ongoing conflict in the region.
“Imagine enduring the final stages of pregnancy, facing possible complications, without access to proper clothing, hygiene, or the necessary support, all while living in uncertainty about what the next day, hour, or even minute will bring for both themselves and their unborn children,” Allen expressed to CNN.
Allen further recounted the harrowing stories emerging from local hospitals, where the circumstances have been nothing short of heartbreaking. The dangerous environment has hindered even midwives from reaching the maternity wards to provide essential assistance, further exacerbating the already critical situation.
In response to these dire conditions, Allen fervently called for immediate action to facilitate access to aid and humanitarian supplies within the enclave. The urgency of this appeal underscores the need for international support to address the escalating healthcare crisis faced by expectant mothers in Gaza.
