The humanitarian pause that took effect from 24-30 November 2023 enabled the delivery of assistance across Gaza, including UNFPA’s life-saving reproductive health kits to hospitals and individual clean delivery kits for distribution to pregnant women north of Wadi Gaza (the north). However, during the first weeks of December, the distribution of humanitarian assistance has been limited mainly to Rafah as other areas are largely inaccessible.

Intense bombardments and fighting took place around three out of the four partially operational hospitals in the north of Gaza, and the Nasser hospital in the south. The 12 hospitals in the South are only partially functional and it is reported that they are barely able to cope with the influx of injuries. This has immediate and potentially life-threatening implications on the 180 pregnant women expected to deliver each day and requiring access to obstetric services.

 

Read more in this Situation Report #4