Women in Gaza forced to give birth without painkillers or sterilised equipment

The only remaining operational hospital in the north of Gaza is delivering up to 20 babies per day despite running out of fuel, ActionAid International has said.

Al-Awda hospital “has had no electricity or fuel for the last three days yet is continuing to operate against the odds, relying on batteries”, the charity said.

A senior doctor at Al-Awda, speaking to ActionAid over the weekend, said: “We received many patients - pregnant women from Gaza City - because the hospitals are closed. We delivered 16 caesarean sections today (Sunday) in Al-Awda Hospital. We are now receiving about 18-20 newborn deliveries every 24 hours.”

According to ActionAid, 22 of Gaza’s 35 hospitals - including two of its biggest medical facilities, Al-Shifa and Al-Quds - are no longer operational because of the bombings or from having run out of fuel.

Riham Jafari, coordinator of advocacy and communication for ActionAid Palestine, said: “Thousands of women in Gaza are risking their lives to give birth, undergoing caesareans and emergency operations without sterilisation, anesthesia or painkillers.”