UN warns of health risk to pregnant women and newborns in Gaza

By Anadolu staff

ISTANBUL, Türkiye (AA) - The UN humanitarian affairs office on Sunday warned of the imminent danger to the health of thousands of pregnant women and newborns in Gaza due to the shortage of food, water, medicines, obstetric care and fuel.

“Amid ongoing hostilities, about 50K women are pregnant in (Gaza). Over 180 are giving birth each day and thousands are due in the coming weeks,” the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said on X.

“Their health, and that of their newborns, depends on access to food, water, medicines, fuel & obstetric care,” it added.

Israel has launched relentless air and ground attacks on the Gaza Strip – including hospitals, residences, and houses of worship – since a cross-border attack by the Palestinian resistance group Hamas on Oct. 7.

The number of deaths in the ongoing Israeli military attacks on the Gaza Strip since Oct. 7 has surpassed the grim figure of 11,100, including more than 8,000 children and women, the government media office in Gaza said on Sunday.

The Israeli death toll is nearly 1,200, according to official figures.

*Writing by Rania Abu Shamala