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‘I’m afraid of losing the baby’ - Pregnant Gaza mother battles war and hunger | N18G

Amid the ongoing war in Gaza, 34-year-old Fatima Arfa, who is six months pregnant and anaemic due to severe malnutrition, fears for her unborn child’s life. Forced to flee her home in northern Gaza, she now lives in a makeshift tent with her husband and five children, facing harsh heat and limited access to healthcare. Doctors say she urgently needs a blood transfusion to survive the pregnancy. According to the UN, 55,000 pregnant women in Gaza are now at risk of miscarriage, stillbirth, and undernourished newborns due to extreme food shortages. Malnutrition is widespread, with nearly 17,000 pregnant and breastfeeding women expected to require urgent care. Israel lifted an 11-week aid blockade in May 2025, but supplies remain scarce, further straining humanitarian efforts. The Gaza conflict, now nearing its second year, has displaced nearly the entire population and left millions facing hunger and fear.

first published: Jul 17, 2025 11:44 pm