Khan Younis (HRNW)- Premature newborns in Gaza’s hospitals are facing severe difficulties as medical facilities struggle with critical shortages of incubators, oxygen, and essential medical supplies.
The head of the neonatal department at Nasser Medical Complex in southern Gaza said the hospital is running out of space and vital equipment. Due to the shortage of capacity, two or sometimes three newborns are being placed in a single incubator.
Most of the infants are underweight and require specialized care, including oxygen support. Dr. Hatem Zahir of Nasser Hospital told AFP that premature births have increased significantly in recent months, alongside a rise in twin and triplet births.
Efforts are being made to transfer patients to other hospitals, but those facilities are also operating with limited capacity. The UN humanitarian agency has reported that one in three pregnancies in Gaza is considered high-risk, while many newborns are being delivered prematurely or with low birth weight.
Medical officials have warned that placing multiple infants in a single incubator increases the risk of death. Gaza’s healthcare system has been severely damaged by the prolonged war, leaving many medical centers fully or partially non-functional and creating shortages of fuel, oxygen, medicines, and specialized equipment.
Doctors are also concerned about cases involving congenital conditions alongside premature births. One infant with a severe congenital heart condition reportedly required transfer to another facility because the necessary treatment was unavailable locally.
UNICEF has increased deliveries of essential neonatal equipment, including incubators, ventilators, and monitors. According to UNICEF, 93 incubators have been provided to six medical centers in Gaza, although health officials say the overall need remains far greater.
Despite the severe shortages, doctors and nurses continue working to save newborn lives. However, Gaza’s devastated healthcare system remains in urgent need of additional medical supplies, equipment, and facilities.
Support HRNW’s independent journalism and humanitarian reporting.
Donate now: www.hrnww.com/?page_id=1083
