The United Nations has issued a stark warning about a deepening maternal health emergency in the Gaza Strip, as Israel continues to block vital humanitarian supplies, including fuel and medical equipment, Anadolu reports.
Speaking at a press briefing on Monday, UN spokesperson Farhan Haq said the situation for pregnant women is deteriorating rapidly, with many living on inadequate nutrition and lacking access to essential medical care.
“The UN Population Fund has reported that pregnant women are surviving on only a fraction of the food they need,” Haq told journalists. “Malnutrition is becoming widespread, and around one in three expectant mothers is now experiencing a high-risk pregnancy – at a time when half of all essential maternal health medications are no longer available.”
He added that fuel shortages, particularly diesel in southern Gaza, have become critical, threatening the functionality of water systems and life-saving medical equipment.
“Today, Israeli authorities again refused to permit a fuel collection mission from Rafah,” he said.
Haq also cited information from the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), warning that without immediate resumption of fuel supplies or access to stockpiles inside Gaza—which require Israeli coordination—humanitarian operations, banking systems, and communications may soon grind to a halt.
He noted that on Monday, Israeli officials rejected seven out of 17 UN coordination requests, including for crucial activities such as water delivery and waste removal.
The blockade has also included a ban on shelter materials for over 100 days, even as more Palestinians are displaced and existing shelters fall into disrepair. “Shelter items need frequent replenishment due to wear and tear, or because they are often left behind when families are forced to flee again,” Haq explained.
Since Israel began its recent military bombardment against Gaza in October 2023, more than 55,000 Palestinians have been killed, with women and children making up the majority of the casualties.
In November, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former defence chief Yoav Gallant, citing alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza. Israel is also the subject of an ongoing genocide case at the International Court of Justice.
