Gaza Crisis: Soaring Newborn Mortality Due to Malnutrition and Destroyed Health Facilities
The World Health Organization (WHO) reported a sharp increase in newborn mortality in the Gaza Strip due to a rise in underweight births.
WHO spokeswoman Margaret Harris stated that many people do not make it to hospitals due to the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, making it difficult to obtain precise statistics on child mortality.
In Gaza's only pediatric hospital, Kamal Adwan, at least 15 malnourished newborns are admitted daily, highlighting the severity of the situation.
The World Health Organization (WHO) is having difficulty obtaining accurate statistics on child mortality in the Palestinian territory due to the destruction caused by six months of war between Israel and Hamas.
Many people are unable to reach hospitals, and those who do often have underlying medical conditions exacerbated by malnutrition.
Last week, a stabilization center was set up to treat such patients.
On Monday, the Israeli army withdrew from Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City, leaving it in ruins and scattering bodies on the grounds.
The hospital, which was the largest in the Palestinian territory, is now closed permanently according to its acting director.
The Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza, which had 750 beds, 25 operating theatres, and 30 intensive care wards, was destroyed by Israel during a conflict with Palestinian militants.
Israel claimed that militants were using the hospital as a base and had recovered weapons, explosives, and cash there.
The conflict, which began with Hamas's attack on Israel in October 2000, resulted in approximately 1,160 deaths in Israel and about 32,916 deaths in Gaza, mostly civilians.
Israelis reported mostly civilian deaths, while the Palestinian health ministry in Gaza reported much higher numbers.
The destruction of Al-Shifa was described as devastating for the Gaza health system by the hospital's director, Dr. Harris.
In Gaza's only pediatric hospital, Kamal Adwan, at least 15 malnourished newborns are admitted daily, highlighting the severity of the situation.
The World Health Organization (WHO) is having difficulty obtaining accurate statistics on child mortality in the Palestinian territory due to the destruction caused by six months of war between Israel and Hamas.
Many people are unable to reach hospitals, and those who do often have underlying medical conditions exacerbated by malnutrition.
Last week, a stabilization center was set up to treat such patients.
On Monday, the Israeli army withdrew from Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City, leaving it in ruins and scattering bodies on the grounds.
The hospital, which was the largest in the Palestinian territory, is now closed permanently according to its acting director.
The Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza, which had 750 beds, 25 operating theatres, and 30 intensive care wards, was destroyed by Israel during a conflict with Palestinian militants.
Israel claimed that militants were using the hospital as a base and had recovered weapons, explosives, and cash there.
The conflict, which began with Hamas's attack on Israel in October 2000, resulted in approximately 1,160 deaths in Israel and about 32,916 deaths in Gaza, mostly civilians.
Israelis reported mostly civilian deaths, while the Palestinian health ministry in Gaza reported much higher numbers.
The destruction of Al-Shifa was described as devastating for the Gaza health system by the hospital's director, Dr. Harris.