KHAN YOUNIS(The COW News Digital) Hospitals in Gaza are facing a severe shortage of incubators, oxygen supplies and essential medical equipment, placing the lives of premature and low-weight newborn babies at increasing risk.
Medical officials at Nasser Medical Complex in southern Gaza say the neonatal department is struggling with limited space and inadequate resources as the number of vulnerable newborns continues to rise.
Hospital authorities said that, because of overcrowding and a shortage of incubators, two or sometimes three newborn babies may have to be placed in a single incubator. Many of the infants are born prematurely or at low birth weight and require oxygen and specialized medical monitoring.
Dr Hatem Zahir, a physician at Nasser Hospital, told AFP that premature births have increased significantly in recent months. He also reported a rise in cases involving twins and triplets, adding further pressure on already overstretched neonatal units.
Attempts are being made to transfer critically ill newborns to other medical facilities, but doctors say hospitals across Gaza are also operating with limited capacity.
The United Nations humanitarian affairs agency has previously reported a high number of high-risk pregnancies in Gaza. According to the agency, one in three pregnancies had been classified as high risk, while many newborns were being delivered prematurely or with low birth weight.
Health officials have warned that placing multiple infants in a single incubator can increase the risk of complications and death, particularly for babies requiring intensive neonatal care.
Years of conflict and the prolonged humanitarian crisis have severely damaged Gaza’s healthcare system. A number of medical facilities have been destroyed, damaged or forced to operate partially, while shortages of fuel, oxygen, medicines and specialized equipment continue to affect essential healthcare services.
Doctors are also concerned about cases involving congenital conditions among newborns. In one reported case, a baby girl diagnosed with a serious congenital heart condition required transfer to another medical facility for specialized treatment. However, the limited availability of advanced medical care within Gaza created additional difficulties.
Meanwhile, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has increased efforts to support neonatal services in Gaza by supplying essential equipment, including incubators, ventilators and patient monitors.
UNICEF has reportedly provided 93 incubators to six medical facilities in Gaza. Despite the assistance, healthcare workers say the number remains insufficient compared with the scale of the needs.
Medical staff continue to care for critically ill newborns despite severe shortages and difficult working conditions. Doctors and nurses are working with limited resources to keep premature babies alive while seeking additional equipment and supplies.
Healthcare workers and humanitarian organizations say Gaza’s neonatal units urgently require more incubators, oxygen systems, ventilators, medicines, fuel and trained medical support.
The continuing shortage highlights the wider strain on Gaza’s healthcare infrastructure and the growing challenges facing mothers and newborns requiring specialized medical care.
