Health officials warn of falling births, rising anaemia and mounting risks to pregnancies as Gaza’s medical system buckles under war pressure
Gaza’s reproductive health crisis has worsened sharply, with miscarriages rising and birth rates falling as the war, mass displacement and collapse of healthcare services place severe pressure on pregnant women, according to health officials.
Dr Muneer Alboursh, Director General of Gaza’s Ministry of Health, said the conflict has pushed reproductive health indicators into alarming territory. He attributed the trend to ongoing Israeli attacks, the breakdown of medical infrastructure, worsening food insecurity and the harsh living conditions faced by displaced families across the enclave.
According to the latest health data, the miscarriage rate in Gaza climbed to 460 cases per 1,000 live births in April 2026, more than three times the global average. Officials now say current indicators suggest the figure has risen further, crossing 500 cases per 1,000 live births. The findings point to a severe absence of the health, nutritional and environmental conditions needed to sustain safe pregnancies.
Birth rates plunge as anaemia and malnutrition worsen
At the same time, Gaza has recorded a steep fall in births. Monthly registered births dropped from 6,076 in November 2025 to just 2,004 in April 2026, marking a 67 percent decline in a matter of months.
Health officials also said 57 percent of pregnant women in Gaza are suffering from anaemia, placing the territory among the worst affected areas globally. The condition reduces oxygen delivery and deprives fetuses of nutrients essential for healthy development, significantly increasing the risk of miscarriage and pregnancy complications.
Collapse of maternal care raises long-term fears
Doctors say the crisis is being driven by a combination of malnutrition, contaminated water, chronic displacement, psychological trauma and the near-total collapse of maternal healthcare services.
Officials warn that the consequences now extend beyond an immediate humanitarian emergency, arguing that the sustained assault on Gaza’s health system is threatening the reproductive future and long-term population survival of Palestinians in the enclave.
