UN: 55,000 pregnant women in Gaza face traumatic conditions

United Nations spokesperson Stephane Dujarric on Wednesday said that 55,000 women in Gaza are struggling with pregnancy and childbirth in “terrible and … traumatic” conditions.

Dujarric said many families cannot flee due to health and security concerns, as well as prohibitive transport costs.

Speaking to reporters at a briefing in New York, Dujarric said that forced Israeli evacuation orders “do not absolve warring parties” of their responsibility to protect civilians.

Several primary health centres have been forced to suspend operations in the area amid the ongoing air strikes, Dujarric said.