ActionAid said that pregnant women in Gaza are suffering from hunger amid severe food shortages, as the entire region remains at risk of famine.

The organization explained in a statement issued today, Monday, that newborn mothers who recently gave birth in Al Awda Hospital in northern Gaza, which is run by the Awda Organization, a partner of Action Aid International, are finding it difficult to find anything to eat during their pregnancy, in light of the lack of fruits. And vegetables at all.

A recent report from the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) concluded that 95% of the population in Gaza are currently experiencing crisis levels of food insecurity or worse. Pregnant women and new mothers are particularly affected, according to a survey issued by UN Women, as 99% of pregnant women said that they face challenges in accessing the food products and nutritional supplements they need, while 76% indicated that they suffer from anemia.

At the same time, 55% of breastfeeding mothers surveyed reported health conditions that hinder their ability to breastfeed, and 99% of them struggle to provide enough breastfeeding for their children.

Consultant and Head of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Al Awda Hospital, Dr. Adnan Radi, said: “Pregnant women often have nothing to eat at all, and the nutritional supplements that we used to give to pregnant women have unfortunately become unavailable, and women do not get any food at all.” “There are no vitamins, minerals, iron, fruits, vegetables or anything.”

He added that women in Gaza suffer greatly from the war and its devastating effects, problems and complications, and currently adding to this suffering is the problem of hunger and impending famine, in addition to the problems that pregnant women already suffer from, such as lack of primary care, lack of medical follow-up, and a sharp rise in the rate of pregnancies. “High risk, premature birth complications, increased miscarriages, and problems such as infections, bleeding, etc.”

ActionAid International warned that the deteriorating humanitarian situation will be exacerbated by the displacement of thousands of people from Khan Yunis after receiving new evacuation orders. With no safe place to go, people are forced to seek shelter in areas already crowded with displaced people, which increases pressure on limited resources. available, increases the risk of disease and the spread of diseases.

“Pregnant women need a varied and nutritious diet to maintain their health and the health of their children, but many of them in Gaza have nothing to eat at all,” said Reham Jaafari, communications and advocacy officer at ActionAid International.

She added that food shortages greatly affect their ability to give birth safely and breastfeed their newborns, many of whom are born at dangerously low weights, and the humanitarian situation remains bleak nine months into this crisis.

The displacement of up to a quarter of a million people from Khan Yunis will only worsen the disaster.

She stressed that Gaza urgently needs more aid and a permanent ceasefire now.