UN agency sounds the alarm over ‘catastrophic birth outcomes’ in Gaza
In Gaza, severe food deprivation, a shattered healthcare system, and immense psychological stress are leading to “catastrophic birth outcomes” for both pregnant women and newborns.
The warning comes from the UN reproductive health agency, UNFPA, which said on Wednesday that the situation is threatening the survival of an entire generation.
UNFPA cited data from the Gaza health authorities covering the first six months of this year.
It said 17,000 births were recorded, marking a sharp decline from the 29,000 births recorded during the same period in 2022, or some 41 per cent.
Additionally, 220 mothers died – more than 20 times the total number of maternal deaths in 2022 – while at least 20 newborns died within 24 hours of birth.
Furthermore, 33 per cent of babies – some 5,560 infants – were born prematurely, underweight, or needed to be admitted to neonatal intensive care or NICUs (nick-U s).
Laila Baker, UNFPA Regional Director for the Arab States, said “the scale of suffering for new mothers and their babies in Gaza is beyond comprehension.”
The agency called on Israel to allow unimpeded, sustained and demilitarized humanitarian aid into Gaza, including fuel, medical supplies, and nutritional support.
Nigeria: Food assistance for 1.3 million at risk of ending
Funding shortfalls will force the World Food Programme (WFP) to suspend emergency food assistance for 1.3 million people in northeast Nigeria at the end of the month, the UN agency warned on Wednesday.
This is happening as the region faces escalating violence by extremist groups and record levels of hunger.
WFP said its food and nutrition stocks have been completely exhausted. The last supplies left warehouses in early July and lifesaving assistance will end after the current round of distributions is completed.
Children will be among the worst affected if assistance ends, the agency said.
More than 150 WFP-supported nutrition clinics in Borno and Yobe states will close, affecting more than 300,000 children under age two and putting them at increased risk of wasting – a life-threatening condition that has long-term impacts on childhood development.
Overall, nearly 31 million people in Nigeria are now facing acute hunger – a record number.
WFP urgently needs $130 million to sustain operations there through the end of the year.
Afghanistan: $10 million allocation to support returnees from Iran
Amid a surge in Afghans returning from Iran, UN’s top humanitarian official Tom Fletcher has allocated $10 million from the Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) to ramp up assistance at the border.
Nearly 340,000 people have returned during the first 12 days of July alone, UN agencies report, bringing the total number to 1.1 million this year.
Families account for 60 per cent of the total returnees. Additionally, 43 per cent of those coming back are under age 18, including a growing number of unaccompanied and separated children.
The funding will help expand support for the most vulnerable returnees, including women and children. However, additional support is needed. Meanwhile, tens of thousands of Afghans are also returning from Pakistan.
Humanitarians are seeking $2.4 billion for Afghanistan this year, but less than a quarter has been received to date.
Dianne Penn, UN News.
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