The Reproductive Health Emergency in Gaza
By Charlize Chen / GICJ
Introduction
On 17 January 2025, following the war on Gaza that restricted humanitarian aid and destroyed hospitals and healthcare centers, Israeli authorities and Hamas agreed to a multi-phase ceasefire. Despite the ceasefire, the reproductive health of women in Gaza remains a critical concern, as the quality of care provided by the few remaining medical facilities has been severely diminished by the humanitarian crisis.
The Israeli War has triggered a catastrophic public health crisis, resulting in a surge in preventable deaths, the rapid spread of diseases, and soaring rates of physical and mental illness. An estimated 177,000 women face life-threatening health risks, including those stemming from non-communicable diseases, hunger, and malnutrition during pregnancy [1]. Those who remain lack access to medicine, ambulances, electricity, and clean water, making even basic life-saving treatments impossible.
According to the United Nations Population Fund, among the 155,000 pregnant women and new mothers in Gaza, 15,000 are on the brink of famine. Among survey respondents who were either recently pregnant or had a pregnant woman in their household, 99% reported struggling to obtain nutritional products and supplements, while 78.4% were unable to undergo tests to assess their nutritional and health status [2].
As of January 2025, emergency obstetric and newborn care is available in only seven of Gaza’s 18 partially functioning hospitals, four of 11 field hospitals, and one community health center—compared to 20 hospitals and numerous smaller healthcare facilities before October 2023. Women are often rushed out of overcrowded hospitals within hours of childbirth to make room for other patients, many of them war casualties. In addition to expectant mothers struggling to conceive under unsafe conditions, healthcare workers remain overworked and overwhelmed, forced to triage and care for the many victims of ongoing attacks.
Lack of Medical Care
Given the extensive damage to medical facilities and severe staff shortages, there is little to no capacity for women's sexual and reproductive health care. Attacks on healthcare facilities have severely disrupted maternal care, leaving women increasingly vulnerable to life-threatening complications during pregnancy, childbirth, and postpartum. Essential medications for newborns are scarce, and many women have undergone cesarean deliveries without anesthesia. The deterioration of childbirth, antenatal, and postnatal services has led to rising maternal, neonatal, and stillbirth mortality rates. Even after the ceasefire, women in Gaza continue to struggle with safe access to health services due to constant displacement as so-called “safe areas” shift. Frequent Israeli military evacuation orders have further disrupted community networks, making it difficult for healthcare workers and volunteers to track pregnancies or respond to families’ needs.
Additionally, limited access to safe water is a major challenge for pregnant women in Gaza. Many report dehydration, with some only able to access highly saline water, while others have gone through entire pregnancies without being able to wash themselves. The lack of adequate nutrition, water, and sanitation has severe health consequences, particularly for pregnant women, girls, and their children. This deprivation can cause or worsen conditions such as anemia, eclampsia, hemorrhage, and sepsis—all of which can be fatal without proper medical treatment.
Risk of Disease
To better understand the gender dynamics of the health crisis, UN Women surveyed 600 people—305 women and 295 men—across Gaza’s five governorates between March and April 2024, assessing their health and well-being. Twelve key informant interviews provided additional insights. If a mother dies during childbirth, her newborn faces a significantly higher risk of hospitalization or death. Among pregnant women interviewed, 68% experienced complications: 92% reported urinary tract infections, 76% anemia, 28% pre-term labor, and 44% hypertensive disorders. Other concerns included bleeding (20%), hemorrhage (16%), and stillbirth (12%) [3]. Furthermore, an estimated 177,000 women face life-threatening health risks, including 162,000 who have or are at risk of developing non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as diabetes, cancer, and cardiovascular or hypertensive diseases.
According to UN Women’s Regional Director for Arab States, Moez Doraid, “Too many women in Gaza are at risk of dying from medical complications after months without any medication, limited access to doctors and no treatment for serious illnesses like diabetes or cancer. It is imperative that we act swiftly to save their lives. An immediate and sustainable ceasefire, the release of all hostages, the provision of safe, unimpeded humanitarian aid, and access to medicines and health services throughout Gaza are essential to prevent further deterioration” [4].
The Geneva International Centre for Justice (GICJ) commends the efforts of healthcare workers in Gaza who are supporting the reproductive health of expecting and new mothers. GICJ also encourages international medical aid to assist mothers, from providing supplies to transferring healthcare personnel from developed countries.
To ensure a safer future for mothers in Gaza, mobile health services must be available in internally displaced communities, enabling early detection of health concerns and the provision of proper treatment and referrals. GICJ supports all women-led organizations providing sexual and reproductive health services in Gaza, advocating for the retention of operational capacities and the sustainability of their services. GICJ also strives to increase awareness of the risks associated with communicable and non-communicable diseases in the postpartum period and how to manage them. In light of the ceasefire, it is more crucial than ever to ensure safe access to healthcare and sexual and reproductive health services for all women and girls.
Sources:
[1] https://arabstates.unwomen.org/en/stories/press-release/2024/09/war-on-womens-health-in-gaza#:~:text=It%20is%20estimated%20that%20more,at%20the%20brink%20of%20famine.
[2] https://www.un.org/unispal/document/unfpa-sitrep-01nov2024/#:~:text=In%20October%202024%2C%20OCHA%20reported,outposts%20established%20since%20October%202023.
[3] https://www.un.org/sexualviolenceinconflict/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/gender-alert-gaza-a-war-on-womens-health/gender-alert-gaza-a-war-on-womens-health-en.pd
Picture Source: GICJ
