UN: Malnutrition among pregnant women and infants in Gaza threatens future generations

This warning was issued during a press conference by Andrew Saberton, UNFPA’s representative, at the UN headquarters in New York, following a five-day mission that included visits to Jerusalem, the West Bank, and Gaza, where he spent five hours on the ground. Saberton described the destruction in Gaza as resembling “a scene from a Hollywood movie.”

Saberton stated that one in four people in Gaza is currently experiencing hunger, including around 11,500 pregnant women. As a result, about 70% of newborns are being delivered prematurely or with low birth weights, compared to 20% before the war began on October 7, 2023.

He noted that neonatal units in Gaza’s hospitals are operating at over 170% of their capacity, often forcing staff to place multiple babies in a single incubator.

He also revealed that one-third of pregnancies in Gaza are now classified as “high risk,” and that the maternal mortality rate remains elevated.

Saberton stressed that malnutrition is the biggest crisis, which is compounded by medicine shortages and the collapse of medical infrastructure. According to him, 94% of Gaza’s hospitals have been damaged or destroyed, and only 15% of health facilities are capable of providing emergency obstetric care.

He further noted that the lack of access to contraceptives is pushing some women to undergo unsafe abortions. At the same time, gender-based and sexual violence, including child marriage, has surged in Gaza, mirroring patterns seen in other conflict zones.

According to data documented by the Ministry of Health and reported by the Government Media Office, 12,000 miscarriages have occurred among pregnant women due to a lack of nutrition and healthcare since the start of the war on October 7, 2023.