Gaza’s Premature Infants at Risk Amid Ongoing Humanitarian Crisis

KHAN YOUNIS, Gaza Strip (AP) — Seham Fawzy Khodeir anxiously watches her newborn son, Hisham al-Lahham, struggle for life inside a dilapidated incubator. At just days old and reliant on breathing equipment and tube feeding, Hisham’s faint cries are a haunting reminder of the precarious situation faced by countless vulnerable infants in the war-torn region.

“There is no milk,” laments the 24-year-old mother of six, emphasizing the critical need for medical-grade formula to ensure her son’s survival. “He needs it to get better, to live and to see life,” she adds, her voice filled with desperation.

A Dire Situation for Neonates

Hisham is one among 580 premature babies at risk of dying from starvation across the Gaza Strip, according to the Gaza Health Ministry. As the ongoing conflict, overshadowed by the Israel-Iran war, continues to escalate, mothers like Khodeir are left to bear the burden of a dire healthcare crisis.

“These babies have no time … and no voice,” warns Dr. Ahmed al-Farah, head of the pediatrics and obstetrics department at Nasser Hospital, the main medical facility somewhat operational in southern Gaza. He stress the urgency of the situation, revealing that the hospital’s supply of vital medical-grade formula is “completely depleted.”

An Avoidable Disaster

Dr. al-Farah raised alarm bells last week, noting that without immediate intervention, these babies would face “an avoidable disaster” in just a few days. Fortunately, a recent shipment of 20 boxes of formula by the U.S. aid organization Rahma Worldwide has temporarily alleviated some needs, but Dr. al-Farah is wary of future shortages. “This is not enough at all,” he states, stressing the necessity of a long-term solution: lifting the blockade.

Compounding the issue, fortified formula for newborns is already running low at Al-Rantisi Hospital in Gaza City. Its director, Dr. Jamil Suliman, highlights that many mothers are unable to breastfeed due to severe malnutrition, exacerbating the crisis facing newborns.

Impact of the Blockade

Since March 2, Gaza has faced an all-encompassing blockade that has severely restricted access to essentials like food, water, shelter, and medication. Under mounting international scrutiny, Israel has agreed to allow minimal aid, leading to over 1,000 tons of baby food, including formula, entering the region since May 19, according to COGAT, the Israeli defense agency coordinating humanitarian efforts.

Despite these efforts, Gaza’s health officials contend that the aid has not adequately addressed the critical shortages of medicine, formula, and medical equipment. The Palestinian Center for Human Rights points out that fortified infant formula is nearing depletion in local markets, with many types completely out of stock.

In response, COGAT asserts that baby food is being distributed primarily through international organizations, amidst criticisms regarding distribution methods and safety. Reports indicate that Israeli forces have fired upon crowds attempting to access aid, claiming these were warning shots.

The Defense of the Blockade

Israel maintains that the blockade is aimed at pressuring Hamas to release hostages taken during the Oct. 7, 2023, attack that initiated the conflict. As of now, fewer than half of the 50 hostages are believed to be alive. Israel has accused Hamas of misappropriating aid, but the United Nations has countered that there’s no substantial evidence of this.

The ongoing war has resulted in catastrophic loss of life, with Gaza health officials reporting over 56,000 Palestinians killed and upwards of 131,000 injured due to Israel’s military actions. Most casualties are reported to be civilians, highlighting the grave humanitarian implications of the conflict.

Challenges Facing Hospitals

The humanitarian crisis further intensifies as shortages of basic necessities threaten to push Gaza’s overstressed healthcare system to its breaking point. Of the enclave’s 36 hospitals, 17 remain partially operational, struggling to serve over 2 million residents amid continuous bombings and rising malnutrition rates.

According to Jonathan Whittall, head of the U.N.’s humanitarian affairs office for the occupied Palestinian territories, over 110 children have been admitted for malnutrition treatment daily since the beginning of this year. Whittall lamented, “Our warehouses stand empty while Israel restricts shipments to minimal quantities of mainly medical supplies and food.”

Human Rights Watch has reported that all medical facilities in Gaza are functioning under unsanitary and overcrowded conditions, suffering from severe shortages of essential healthcare goods, including vaccines. The ongoing conflict has left women and girls, especially those who are pregnant, vulnerable without access to basic health care and nutrition.

With fuel for generators dwindling, hospitals are forced to ration resources to avoid total operational shutdown. Nasser Hospital has even resorted to cutting electricity in certain departments while managing a continuous influx of patients requiring urgent care.

“The situation here is terrifying, immoral, and inhumane,” says Dr. Mohammad Saqer, Nasser’s director of nursing, encapsulating the despair that has gripped the region.