In the besieged Gaza Strip, the struggle for survival is growing more desperate by the day. According to the World Health Organization, nearly 90% of pregnant and breastfeeding women are now suffering from severe malnutrition—a shocking figure that paints a harrowing picture of life under blockade and bombardment.

Speaking during World Health Week, WHO spokesperson Margaret Harris called attention to the catastrophic state of maternal and child health in Gaza. With healthcare facilities barely functioning and essential supplies trickling in, the prospects for countless women and newborns have become increasingly grim. Since the start of the Israeli offensive in October 2023, access to food, water, and medical care has collapsed, leaving families to face hunger and illness with no support.

Though a brief ceasefire earlier this year allowed limited aid to enter and some hospitals to resume partial operations, renewed attacks quickly reversed any progress. The destruction of key facilities such as Nasser Hospital has left the territory with only a handful of functioning hospitals—most working far beyond their capacity and without the necessary equipment or staff.

Despite the chaos, health workers in Gaza continue their lifesaving work with unwavering determination. Operating in ruined wards and under constant threat, they remain a beacon of hope in a land where survival itself has become a daily battle.