Gaza: Low birth weight, fierce fighting and hospitals reopen
More than seven months after the war, babies are still born too small, warns the United Nations agency about Palestinian refugees, UNRWA.
“Habiba was born in a small tent. She is only two weeks old and weighs less than two kilograms,” the United Nations agency said. speak in a post on X, adding that more than 150,000 pregnant and breastfeeding women continue to face severe unsanitary conditions and health hazards.
United Nations Agency, World Food Program (WFP) emphasize The big challenge parents face is keeping their children safe and well fed. To prevent malnutrition, WFP distributes fortified date bars, including to parents Khaled and Siham, who “some days…have nothing to eat leaving little money what little they have for their children.”
Based on WFPMalnutrition in children is happening “at a record pace”, with 1 in 3 children under 2 years old being severely malnourished or wasted.
The agency affirmed that the United Nations and its partners have enough means to increase aid to all 2.2 million people in Gaza, but only if a humanitarian ceasefire occurs.
Heavy clash
Meanwhile, aid efforts continue amid reports of gun battles between the Israeli army and Palestinian militants in Jabalia in the north and Rafah in the south.
So far, Rafah has evacuated at least 600,000 people in the last week alone and another 100,000 people have had to evacuate from the north of the area, amid a new evacuation order by the Israeli military.
“Families continue to flee to places they can, including rubble and sand dunes, in search of safety, but there is none in Gaza,” UNRWA said. tweet Tuesday, with images showing a stream of vehicles heading toward the coast, some laden with entire families’ belongings.
United Nations Office for the Coordination of Aid, OCHAsaid aid teams are continuing to try to provide life-saving assistance “wherever and whenever possible,” although the main border crossing at Rafah remains closed and “there is no safe passage.” safety” at the nearby Kerem Shalom border crossing, which was “logistically unfeasible”. ”.
Nasser Hospital reopens
In a rare piece of good news, OCHA reported that the Nasser Medical Complex in Khan Younis is expected to officially reopen in the coming days.
The hospital, located in southern Khan Younis and formerly one of the largest in Gaza, was hit by intense Israeli artillery fire in February. Israeli forces also entered the facility after weeks of fighting and siege.
OCHA said in an update that the hospital had resumed providing dialysis treatment last week to patients who could not be treated at An Najjar Hospital in Rafah, “which had stopped providing the service.” ”.
Aid vehicles were attacked
Major obstacles continue to face aid teams in and out of Gaza, including Tuesday’s attack by Israeli settlers in the West Bank on trucks carrying humanitarian aid to the region. this area. “Settlers unloaded goods and vandalized vehicles at the Tarqumiya checkpoint and near the Roadblock by Beit ‘Awwa. Several trucks were damaged,” the United Nations aid office said.
Unconfirmed media reports showed that protesters calling for the release of Israeli hostages blocked trucks originating from Jordan and trampled on boxes containing relief supplies.
Latest data from Gaza health authorities indicate that at least 35,000 people have been killed in Gaza since October 7 amid Israeli shelling and ground operations sparked by terrorist attacks led by Hamas, left about 1,200 people dead in southern Israeli communities and more than 250 arrested. hostage.
