Watan-A video has circulated showing a displaced Palestinian woman in the Gaza Strip who gave birth to quadruplets in tragic conditions caused by the ongoing brutal Israeli war since October 7th.
In the video, the displaced family is seen residing in a tent, with the mother lying on the ground, holding onto the three infants, while other children are present in the tent.
This comes at a time when the suffering of pregnant women in the Gaza Strip becomes evident, as they give birth in extremely tragic conditions due to the catastrophic humanitarian crisis caused by the Israeli war on Gaza.
فلسطينية نازحة في #غزة تنجب 4 توائم في ظروف معيشية صعبة تحت الحرب والحصار الإسرائيلي المفروض على القطاع pic.twitter.com/5IaK0ZEbRH
— الجزيرة مصر (@AJA_Egypt) December 26, 2023
Catastrophic Situation for Pregnant Women in Gaza
UNICEF has spoken about the disastrous situation for pregnant women in Gaza, stating: “We are particularly concerned about the nutrition of over 155,000 pregnant and lactating women, in addition to more than 135,000 children under the age of two, due to their special nutritional needs, which are exacerbated by tension and shocks.”
Tens of thousands of pregnant women are suffering from severe hunger due to the escalating food crisis in Gaza. Mothers are experiencing malnutrition, limiting their ability to breastfeed their newborns through natural feeding.
Severe Hunger Afflicting Pregnant and Lactating Women
Action Against Hunger International Foundation stated in a press release that 71% of the population in Gaza is currently suffering from severe hunger, while 98% do not have enough food.
The humanitarian crisis is significantly impacting pregnant women, mothers, and their young children. According to recent United Nations data, there are 50,000 pregnant women and 68,000 lactating mothers in Gaza who urgently need life-saving preventive, therapeutic, and nutritional interventions.
More distressing is that women are forced to undergo childbirth without any anesthesia due to difficulties in obtaining women’s supplies as a result of the blockade.
The United Nations Population Fund warned of the dire fate faced by tens of thousands of pregnant and lactating women in Gaza, stating that they are at risk of anemia, bleeding, and death. The only way to ensure they receive food and assistance is through a cessation of hostilities.
The UNFPA mentioned that over 180 women give birth in Gaza every day under unimaginable conditions. Many pregnant women undergo “forced cesarean sections without anesthesia,” posing a threat to their lives.