The situation for pregnant women in the Gaza Strip is becoming increasingly dire amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestine. Doctors in the embattled region warn of a significantly higher risk of miscarriage for pregnant women.
The Palestinian Health Ministry has reported a staggering 300% increase in miscarriage rates since the conflict began, putting approximately 60,000 pregnant women at risk due to the lack of healthcare and challenges in reaching hospitals.
The Gaza health system has collapsed, with numerous hospitals and healthcare centers closing over the past three months due to Israeli bombings. This has endangered the lives of not only pregnant women but also hundreds of wounded individuals, patients, and premature babies. The dire situation has forced women like Sherine Abu Daher to endure miscarriages while fleeing for safety.
Dr. Jamal Al-Hams, an obstetrics and gynecology specialist, attributes the rise in miscarriages to the use of unconventional weapons, including phosphorus bombs, smoke bombs, and toxins emitted from rockets during attacks on the Strip. The medical director of the Kuwaiti Hospital in Rafah notes the disastrous health impacts and the constant influx of pregnant women experiencing bleeding and miscarriages.
Limited resources and a severe shortage of medicine have led to caesarean sections and deliveries being performed without basic medical supplies or anesthesia. Additionally, many women are forced to leave hospitals within hours of giving birth due to a shortage of available beds and the daily arrival of hundreds of wounded individuals.
In addition to the increased miscarriages, there is a rise in postnatal infant mortality due to high infection rates and the scarcity of basic supplies such as vaccinations, milk, and diapers.
