Nestor Omohangi, UNFPA’s representative in Palestine, warned that more than 17,000 pregnant women are on the brink of famine, while 11,000 are already living in famine-like conditions.

Néstor Omohangi said malnutrition and anxiety hinder breastfeeding for three-quarters of new mothers, at a time when infant formula is not available.

He made the remarks during a video briefing to reporters in New York on Thursday, following a recent eight-day visit to the Gaza Strip, where he saw first-hand the dire conditions facing women and girls, including the hardships faced by pregnant women and the population at large.

Overcrowded shelters and lack of hygiene have exacerbated the plight of women, he said. In Gaza, where nearly 700,000 women and girls lack access to health products.

Omuhangi detailed the worsening plight of pregnant women, with 49,000 women currently pregnant, 4,000 of whom are expected to give birth soon. The scarcity of antenatal and postnatal care has increased the risk of miscarriage and maternal mortality.

With the destruction of healthcare infrastructure, only 16 of the 36 hospitals in the Strip remain functioning, three of which are close due to evacuations.