Premature and newborn babies in the Gaza Strip face deteriorating health conditions, with increasing cases of respiratory distress, amid a severe shortage of medicines and medical supplies due to the Israeli blockade that has been ongoing for nearly two years.
At Al-Tahrir Hospital, part of the Nasser Medical Complex in the southern Gaza Strip, the nursery is crowded with dozens of infants, with mothers and families spread out on the floor next to their babies. At times, three infants are forced to share one bed to receive care.
Hospital director Ahmed Al-Farra told reporters that “Gaza is experiencing a severe wave of bronchitis and respiratory infections.” He explained that some children are being placed directly on the floor due to the lack of beds, while oxygen is being distributed according to priority due to its scarcity.
He emphasized that the shortage of medical staff and overcrowding increase the likelihood of respiratory infections being transmitted among patients. He added that “the number of premature births has increased significantly,” attributing this to the war’s conditions and its health repercussions. He warned that a number of these children are dependent on ventilators due to their respiratory failure.
