Born too soon: Premature babies fight for survival in Gaza
Gaza is experiencing a sharp increase in premature births and health complications among newborns and mothers, attributed to malnutrition, psychological stress, and limited prenatal care since October 2023. UNICEF reports that one in five newborns requires intensive neonatal care, with maternal deprivation and displacement cited as primary contributing factors.
Healthcare facilities across Gaza are confronting a surge in premature births and associated complications among mothers and newborns. Medical professionals working in the territory have documented rising rates of underweight infants, stillbirths, and birth defects, alongside deteriorating maternal health outcomes. The conditions reflect cumulative effects of prolonged food insecurity, repeated displacement, and restricted access to prenatal services.
Obstetrician and gynecologist Dr. Afnan Abu Hasaballah, working with UNRWA and Al-Awda Health Hospital, has observed pregnant women arriving at facilities in states of severe stress and physical exhaustion following repeated displacement and bombardment. She notes that constant fear, inadequate nutrition, limited access to clean water, and insufficient prenatal care collectively elevate the risk of premature delivery and low birthweight outcomes requiring intensive intervention.
Malnutrition among expectant mothers compounds these challenges, increasing vulnerability to anemia, pregnancy complications, and restricted fetal development. International organizations including UNICEF have repeatedly warned of the neonatal crisis, with approximately one in five newborns requiring intensive neonatal or thermal care. Individual cases illustrate the human toll: mothers like Noor Salem, who previously lost a child, now watch premature infants in intensive care units, hoping for survival and recovery.
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