Pregnant women and new mothers in Gaza are facing a constant struggle to keep themselves and their babies alive amidst life-threatening shortages of food, water and medical care.

Islamic Relief staff in Gaza report pregnant women enduring C-sections without anaesthetic or painkillers, newborn infants starving to death, and a shortage of menstrual hygiene materials leading to women and girls developing infections as they resort to using any scraps of cloth or torn clothing they can find.

Fatima*, an aid worker with an Islamic Relief partner organisation in Gaza, says:

Pregnancy now is like women used to have it 100 years ago, without medical care, checkups, scans or good nutrition. Many women I know have had miscarriages and problems due to the lack of medical care.

There are around 50,000 pregnant women in Gaza and every day about 180 women give birth in unimaginable conditions.

With the health system under systematic Israeli attack, two thirds of hospitals and nearly 80% of healthcare facilities are now completely shut down and pregnant women are giving birth amid the rubble or in tents or cars because they can’t get to hospital or medical facilities.

Pregnant women and newborn babies have repeatedly been forced to evacuate hospitals and aid workers report a big increase in premature births due to the extreme levels of stress.

Islamic Relief is building and supporting maternity centres in Gaza, so that mothers and babies have the best start.

These maternity centres are lifesavers for mothers to be and newborn babies.

Building a maternity centre with vital equipment, ambulances and medically trained staff changes the risks mothers and babies face, and ultimately saves lives.

With your support, Islamic Relief will remain a lifeline for Palestinian mothers and babies. Please give generously to our appeal now.