Making motherhood safer in Gaza

The crisis in Gaza is especially dire for pregnant women. [USA for UNFPA]( “Horror. Unbelievable terror.” These are the words that Suhad, a 36-year-old pregnant woman, used to describe the living conditions in Gaza. [Suhad, an expectant mother living in Rafah]( Suhad has been displaced by the ongoing war in Gaza and is now staying in a tent in Rafah, one of the most densely populated areas, before her scheduled C-section. “We’re in Rafah, living in a tent, and the situation is very difficult. Every time it rains, the tent floods and our beds get wet. It takes two or three days for the beds to dry out. We don’t know what to do,” she told UNFPA. Everyone is suffering in Gaza right now — but the crisis is especially dire for pregnant women like Suhad: “The hospital is unbelievably overcrowded with so many deliveries. They told us that if we want to give birth in the ward, we should bring our own mattress and pillow.” For those who do make it through childbirth, it’s right back to the same unlivable conditions afterwards. “Today, I am scheduled for a C-section. Then I’ll return to the same suffering in the tent. It will be extremely difficult after the birth. From the physical pain to staying in an ice-cold tent — and there are no clothes for the baby,” Suhad explained to us. She tearfully implored: “What has she done to be born into a situation like this?” Motherhood can be a death sentence for pregnant women and newborns alike in crisis zones like in Gaza, where access to proper maternal health services is threatened. But powered by your humanitarian gifts, UNFPA is making motherhood safer in Gaza. [Will you donate any amount you can spare to help make motherhood safe in Gaza and wherever your support is needed most? Expectant mothers who are due to give birth in war zones are counting on your help.]( [MAKE AN EMERGENCY GIFT]( Thanks to gifts from supporters like you, UNFPA and partners have delivered lifesaving medicines and equipment that have supported more than half of the 21,000 births in Gaza since October 2023. Essential hygiene supplies, including soap and sanitary pads, are being delivered to women and girls. But these meet only a fraction of the needs. The health system is on its knees. Hospitals are overwhelmed, and health personnel are working under immense stress and hardship as sanitation worsens. The estimated 5,500 pregnant women who will give birth in the coming month face unimaginable challenges in accessing adequate medical care — most no longer have the health care facilities they need to deliver their babies safely. Your gifts can make a world of difference, so we’re urgently asking our top supporters to step up today to deliver humanitarian aid: [Will you make an emergency gift to deliver lifesaving care to pregnant women, newborns, and all the women and girls affected by crises, in Gaza and around the world?]( [MAKE AN EMERGENCY GIFT]( UNFPA deeply regrets the end of the humanitarian pause in Gaza. We condemn the violence in Israel, Gaza, and the West Bank, including all sexual violence against women, and echo the UN Secretary-General’s call for a sustained humanitarian ceasefire and for the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages by Hamas. Thank you for being there. — USA for UNFPA [usaforunfpa.org]( | info@usaforunfpa.org | [Privacy Policy]( SENT BY USA FOR UNFPA: THE UN SEXUAL AND REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH AGENCY What does UNFPA stand for? Find the answer to this question and more in our [FAQ.]( This email was sent to {EMAIL}. If you no longer wish to receive these messages, please [unsubscribe](. Or request to receive only our most important emails [here.]( USA for UNFPA 605 Third Ave 4th Floor New York, NY 10158 United States