Continuous bombardments in Gaza forces women to undergo premature births
Palestinian filmmaker highlights crisis of premature infants in Gaza
SHAH ALAM - Pregnant women in Gaza are enduring a horrific ordeal, giving birth to premature infants as a result of incessant bombings.
The sole maternity hospital in Gaza is forced to deliver babies as early as 26 weeks, with doctors voicing grave concerns over the infants' survival due to their extreme vulnerability.
Palestinian filmmaker Bisan Owda, known on Instagram as wizard_bisan1, took to her platform to highlight this distressing situation.
"This infant is a casualty of the conflict, born prematurely at 26 weeks because of the ongoing crisis.
"Sadly, the baby's survival prospects are slim due to the fragile condition at birth," she explained, showcasing the baby in an incubator.
Bisan elaborated on the factors leading to a spike in premature births among pregnant women in Gaza.
"The daily stress and fear amid unceasing bombings are causing increased anxiety levels in expectant mothers.
"The scarcity of clean water and adequate nutrition during pregnancy is aggravating health risks for both mothers and their unborn children.
"Injuries from the conflict further endanger the health of pregnant women," she added.
Bisan lamented that these circumstances have led to a grim reality for expectant mothers in Gaza, many of whom are going into premature labor and delivering babies who struggle to survive after birth.
"Regrettably, these are the conditions in Gaza, resulting in many women delivering prematurely, and a large number of infants are not surviving," she said.
Reports suggest that around 50,000 pregnant women in Gaza have been impacted by Israel's bloodshed, with a significant number giving birth prematurely or at imminent risk of doing so.
Since November, the United Nations (UN) agencies have warned that women, children, and newborns in Gaza are disproportionately paying the price of the genocide by Israel.
During the daily press briefing, UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric also conveyed World Health Organisation Secretary-General António Guterres's growing concern for the well-being of Gaza Strip residents, particularly women and children.
He stressed that, despite numerous challenges, the UN alongside its humanitarian partners persists in delivering food assistance to those in need within the Gaza Strip.
