Health indicators threaten mothers and newborns in Gaza, with warnings of an imminent epidemic

The Ministry of Health in the Gaza Strip has warned of serious and unprecedented indicators affecting the health of mothers and newborns, amid the ongoing fallout from the war and the collapse of the health system.

The ministry confirmed that the impact of the aggression continues, even after the cessation of military operations.

Babies born underweight in Gaza

According to official data published by the Ministry of Health and reviewed by the Canary, approximately 4,900 babies were born underweight during the past period. This represents a 60% increase compared to the pre-war period. The data also recorded nearly 4,000 cases of premature birth and around 5,000 miscarriages, indicating a sharp deterioration in health and nutrition conditions for pregnant women.

The ministry warned that these figures may not reflect the true scale of the crisis. It said the actual numbers are likely far higher, as many women cannot access healthcare due to destruction, displacement, and the lack of medical services. Officials also documented 611 cases of intrauterine deaths, a 47% increase compared to 2022. There were 315 recorded cases of birth defects, up 58%, and 452 newborn deaths during the first week of life in 2025.

The ministry confirmed that the health repercussions of the war are ongoing. Primary healthcare clinics continue to report rising cases of miscarriage, premature birth, and intrauterine death, despite the halt in fighting.

Meningitis scare in the South

In a related warning, the ministry revealed that cases of spinal fever — meningitis — have been recorded in southern Gaza. It cautioned that the disease could spread to northern Gaza due to deteriorating health conditions. It explained that meningitis spreads rapidly in crowded environments. Repeated displacement and forced population movement mean any outbreak poses a direct threat across the entire Strip.

The ministry stressed that Gaza’s health system is in a catastrophic state. Hospitals and medical facilities are unable to cope with a potential epidemic due to depleted resources and severe shortages of staff, supplies, and medicines.

It warned that the lack of basic medical supplies, laboratory tests, and treatments for meningitis could cause the disease to spiral out of control. The situation must be treated as an urgent health emergency requiring immediate intervention and the unrestricted entry of medical supplies.

Featured image via Doctors Without Borders