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<font size=3 color="#191919">Siege hits Palestinians before they are born
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Mohammed Omer, <i>The Electronic Intifada,</i> 15 May 2008 <br>
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It can be a hard life for babies from day one, or even earlier. (Mohammed
Omer/IPS) <br><br>
GAZA CITY, 14 May (IPS) - The Israeli siege of Gaza that has restricted
access to food, water and medicine is now beginning to hit unborn
children and newborn babies.<br><br>
"Many babies are born suffering from anaemia that they have
inherited from their mothers," Dr Salah al-Rantisi, head of the
women's health department at the Palestinian ministry of health in Gaza
told IPS. And the mothers are becoming anemic because they do not now get
enough nutrition through pregnancy.<br><br>
That in turn happens because the Israeli blockade has choked the supply
of food and medicines.<br><br>
Dr. al-Rantisi also heads the women's health unit at Nasser hospital,
where about 30 to 40 children are born every day. Many suffer from
anemia, he says.<br><br>
Anwaar Abu Daqqa, 30, has lost three babies prematurely. The fetuses were
malformed as a result of lack of nutrition and medicine for the mother,
Dr. al-Rantisi said. And in the last case she reached hospital late
because she could not find transport.<br><br>
"Premature babies born dangerously underweight is a daily and
increasing phenomenon in Gaza's hospitals," he says.<br><br>
The Gaza Strip is poorer and harder hit than the West Bank, but there too
there are well documented instances of women having to give birth at
checkpoints because of restrictions on movement.<br><br>
The ministry of health says 9,000 to 10,000 babies are born in the Gaza
Strip every month. Of every 1,000 born, 28 die from malnutrition, anemia
and other poverty-related causes. The ministry has no figures for
surviving babies suffering from malnutrition.<br><br>
"There are many cases of pregnant women who need medicines that are
not available in Gaza," al-Rantisi said. Most families could not
afford them if they were available, he said.<br><br>
The World Bank said last month that the poverty rate in Gaza is now close
to 67 percent and that economic growth last year was zero.<br><br>
One consequence of poverty is anaemia. The condition, a direct
consequence of poor nutrition, is not new to Gaza. The UN agency for
Palestine refugees, UNRWA reported in 2002 that 19 percent of
Palestinians in Gaza suffer from anemia. That figure is estimated by
UNRWA now to be 77.5 percent. Children receive on average only 61 percent
of their daily need of calories from UN supplies.<br><br>
Many of the newly born have been hit by the political situation before
they could open their eyes to the world. Of the many deliveries that take
place at al-Shifa hospital, the largest in Gaza, no one can tell how many
of these children could grow up to live happy and healthy lives. Through
the many dangers has arisen awareness of this new one - that sanctions
can hit Gazans quite literally prematurely.<br><br>
The fear of bombing comes later; the first dangers are the lack of food,
water and medicines.<br><br>
Tahani Safi, 29, lies worrying about the cesarean section scheduled for
the next day. She suffers from malnutrition, high blood pressure,
diabetes, and a shortage of protective water around the child in the
womb.<br><br>
There are many mothers with such difficulties. Such cases can be found at
any hospital, but doctors say the number of cases of conditions a result
of poor food and medical care in Gaza is now rising. Health authorities
have warned that the life and health of countless unborn babies is in
serious danger all across Gaza.<br><br>
So far 146 Palestinians in Gaza have died directly as a result of the
Israeli siege, and the border closures and shortage of medication and
health care this has brought, according to the ministry of
health.<br><br>
The US celebrated Mothers Day Sunday May 11. No one in Gaza did.<br><br>
<i>All rights reserved, IPS - Inter Press Service (2008). Total or
partial publication, retransmission or sale forbidden.</i> <br><br>
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