Gaza’s newborns forced to share oxygen masks amid severe shortage: UNICEF

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has reported that due to acute shortages in Gaza, children are being forced to share a single oxygen mask in hospitals.

According to UNICEF, Israeli restrictions have halted the supply of incubators to hospitals in Gaza, worsening conditions for newborns and premature infants.

Meanwhile, the World Health Organization (WHO) stated that during the Gaza war, malnutrition has surged, causing pregnant women to deliver underweight and premature babies.

It added that one in five babies born in Gaza is now affected by these health complications.

Earlier this month, Israel shut down hospitals in northern Gaza, leading to severe overcrowding in medical facilities located in the southern part of the enclave.

UNICEF spokesperson James Elder said that at Nasser Hospital, mothers and children are lying in corridors, while newborns are forced to share oxygen masks and beds due to the lack of essential medical equipment.