WHO reports ‘sharp rise’ in newborn deaths in Gaza

Newborn mortality is “strongly increasing” in the Gaza Strip, warns the World Health Organization. “Different doctors, especially in maternity wards, report that they are seeing a sharp rise in the number of children born with low birth weight and that they simply do not survive the neonatal period because they are born too small”explained Margaret Harris, WHO spokesperson, Tuesday April 2.

During a press briefing, the manager notably mentioned the Kamal Adwan pediatric hospital, “where at least 15 malnourished children arrive every day” and or “the needs are becoming more and more pressing”. The WHO spokesperson also gave the example of a stabilization center installed last week: “Hospitalized patients are usually children who are suffering from illnesses and malnutrition because, as you know, if you have an underlying illness, malnutrition will kill you much more quickly.”

Margaret Harris also returned to the situation at al-Chifa hospital in Gaza City. Israeli forces withdrew from this hospital complex on Monday, after two weeks of operations. “It is no longer able to function as a hospital in any form. (…) Destroying al-Chifa means tearing out the heart of the health system”, she lamented.