Gaza/New York – Europe and the Arabs

In Gaza, pregnant women and new mothers face dire conditions, lacking the essential healthcare, food, and living environments required for both mother and child.
Approximately 180 babies are born daily in Gaza, yet accessing prenatal and delivery care has become difficult for many women. After giving birth, women return to overcrowded tents lacking sanitation and adequate food, with no safe or suitable space for themselves and their newborns.
During the first six months of 2026, nearly 4,000 cases of pregnancy loss were reported—more than triple the rate recorded in the preceding six months.
Additionally, nearly one in three pregnancies is now considered high-risk, and more than half of pregnant women suffer from anemia; these conditions also impact delivery methods, with about half of all births occurring via Caesarean section, many of them emergency procedures.
Nestor Oomohanghi, the UNFPA Representative for Palestine, visited Gaza this week to oversee the Fund's efforts to support pregnant women and mothers.
Oomohanghi stated that the women he met were "displaced, severely hungry, and living in a state of uncertainty," unsure if they would be able to access medical assistance when needed.
The UNFPA is attempting to address these needs by supporting maternity hospitals, health centers, mobile medical services, and midwives in Gaza.
The Fund provides medicines, medical equipment, and reproductive health supplies, while also deploying health workers and supporting services for women and girls affected by gender-based violence. In 2026, approximately 680,000 women, girls, and young people benefited from sexual and reproductive health services, as well as services addressing gender-based violence and mental health. However, the scale of needs continues to exceed the response capacity.
Owoimohanghe states that the Fund continues to provide whatever support it can—including equipping health facilities, supplying medicines, equipment, and supplies, and deploying health workers. Yet, he is clear: "It is not enough." He added, "We feel we could do more if we had more."
For mothers in Gaza, childbirth does not mark the end of a difficult journey but rather the beginning of a new phase—one in which a mother attempts to care for her child amidst conditions that still lack many basic necessities.