Infants in Northern Gaza Suffer from Dehydration, Malnutrition as War Continues
(AWP) - The people of the northern Gaza Strip have warned of a growth in the number of infant dehydration and malnutrition cases as a result of Israel’s ban on humanitarian aid deliveries, as Israel continues its war on the enclave, ongoing since 7 October.
In Kamal Adwan Hospital in Beit Lahia, many newborns lie in the intensive care unit for treatment from acute dehydration, as necessary nutrition is not available.
The mother of the infant Adul-Aziz al-Hawrani, who is receiving treatment at the hospital, said that her child suffers from acute dehydration.
“This is my first child, but unfortunately, I gave birth to him in a time of war. He did not receive the proper medical care during the pregnancy period. He did not receive enough breast milk due to malnutrition. This is all because of the occupation, which denies access to aid and medical care,” she added.
Eman Abu Jalhoum, a nurse at the hospital’s intensive care unit, said that her department receives daily cases of malnutrition and dehydration, in addition to food poisoning cases in both children and adults.
“The malnutrition experienced by pregnant mothers is harmful to the fetus’ health. They are born in need of care, medication and food supplements. Mothers’ breast milk is not plentiful enough. That’s why infants need powdered milk, which is not available on the market. Children here suffer from very acute malnutrition,” she added.
“The children who have survived the shelling and bombing attacks will not survive malnutrition, which is very hard here in the Kamal Adwan Hospital. We have one or two infant mortality cases on a daily basis,” noted Abu Jalhoum.
The United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) described the death of children as a result of dehydration and malnutrition in northern Gaza as “horrific.”
The health ministry in the Strip has warned that dehydration and malnutrition could cause the death of thousands of infants and pregnant women.