The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) issued a stark warning on Tuesday about the devastating impact of Gaza’s humanitarian crisis on pregnant women and newborns, as starvation, psychological trauma, and a crumbling health system contribute to a surge in maternal and infant deaths.
Between January and June 2025, birth rates in Gaza plummeted and maternal deaths soared, painting what the UN sexual and reproductive health agency called a “harrowing picture” of the conditions facing women and newborns.
According to newly released data from Gaza’s Ministry of Health, just 17,000 births were recorded in the first half of the year, a sharp drop from 29,000 during the same period in 2022, representing a 41% decline.
The report also documented 220 maternal deaths, more than 20 times the number recorded in 2022, along with the deaths of at least 20 newborns within 24 hours of birth. Additionally, 33% of babies born, approximately 5,560 infants, were premature, underweight or required admission to neonatal intensive care units.
“The scale of suffering for new mothers and their babies in Gaza is beyond comprehension,” said Laila Baker, UNFPA’s regional director for the Arab States. “Every mother and child deserves the right to a safe birth and a healthy start to life. What we are witnessing is a systematic denial of these fundamental rights, pushing an entire generation to the brink.”
The collapse of Gaza’s healthcare infrastructure is a central factor driving the crisis. Most hospitals have been damaged or destroyed, and those that remain operational are functioning at limited capacity. UNFPA reports that 70% of essential medicines are out of stock and half of all medical equipment is damaged, severely hindering access to critical neonatal care. The result is a 70% reduction in services available to newborns.
Ambulance and referral systems have nearly collapsed, leaving pregnant women without access to antenatal care or safe delivery services. Treatable complications are increasingly resulting in preventable deaths due to transportation barriers and a lack of medical staff and resources.
Despite the urgent need, UNFPA says humanitarian aid continues to be blocked. The agency has 170 trucks filled with maternal health supplies, including mobile maternity units, incubators, and life-saving medicines, stalled at border crossings since early March.
UNFPA is calling on Israel to allow immediate, sustained, and demilitarized humanitarian access to Gaza, including fuel, medical supplies, and nutritional aid. “Every moment lost,” the agency said, “means more preventable deaths and unimaginable suffering for the most vulnerable.”
add your comment
Terms of publication : Not to offend the writer, people, sacred things, or attack religions or the divine self, and refrain from racist incitement and insults.