Premature babies struggle for survival in northern Gaza

As premature babies struggle for their lives, medical teams in Gaza are suffering from a severe shortage of basic equipment such as ultrasound machines, incubators, medical supplies, and even formula for premature babies, making saving their lives a daily challenge.

From Al Helou Hospital in North Gaza, supported by Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), Dr. Joan Perry recounted her experience caring for premature babies in the neonatal intensive care unit.

She said, “At first, two babies were sharing one incubator, which in itself is a shocking and unacceptable reality. Then, the number increased to three, and last week, we saw five babies sharing one incubator. With all the attacks on healthcare facilities, there are now only 36 incubators in North Gaza, down from 126 before October 2023.”

The risk of infection increases dramatically when multiple babies share an incubator, especially since their immune systems, especially those of premature babies, are not yet fully developed.