Gaza – Saba:
Margaret Harris, spokesperson for the World Health Organization (WHO), has stated that approximately 90% of pregnant and breastfeeding women in the Gaza Strip are suffering from severe malnutrition, highlighting that a shortage of medical equipment is hindering the delivery of necessary healthcare.
As part of the “World Health Week” events running from April 7 to 13, Harris presented the deteriorating health situation in Gaza, which has been subjected to a brutal war for the past year and a half.
She added that maternal and child health in the strip has sharply declined since the onset of the Israeli offensive in October 2023. Many women and children are in urgent need of medical treatment, and there is a critical shortage of both food and medical aid reaching the area, further worsening the health crisis.
Regarding the temporary ceasefire period, Harris explained that some hospitals resumed operations, with medical teams deployed and supported by international efforts.
However, she noted that the renewed attacks following the ceasefire led to the destruction of several healthcare facilities, including Al-Nasser Hospital, leaving around 20 hospitals in Gaza partially operational and functioning with limited capacity.
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