15th January marked the 100th day of continuous war in Gaza and the crisis intensifies each day. Of Gaza’s 2.2 million people, more than 1.7 million have been displaced, including many who have been forcibly displaced multiple times. According to MoH Gaza, as of 23 January, there have been 25,490 deaths, and 63,354 injuries in addition to the thousands of persons who remain missing. 70% of deaths are women and children.
With hospitals overwhelmed by casualties and lacking essential fuel, medicines and basic supplies, many people will be cut off from safe delivery services. Furthermore, UNFPA and humanitarian actors have been denied humanitarian access to deliver pharmaceuticals, supplies, medical equipment and to deliver services particularly in the north. OCHA indicated that only 7/29 planned missions north of Wadi Gaza reached their destination in the first weeks of January while the other 22 were denied access by the Israeli authorities.
According to the World Health Organization, as of 15 January, only 15 out of Gaza’s 36 hospitals are even partially functional – nine in the south and six in the north. Among the estimated 180 women give birth each day in Gaza, 15% are expected to experience pregnancy- or birth-related complications. Limited access to appropriate services and denied delivery of humanitarian supplies will directly impact the 840 pregnant women expected to experience an obstetric complication in the next month which can increase rates of maternal and newborn morbidity and mortality.
