GAZA — In the neonatal wards of Gaza’s war-ravaged hospitals, a silent emergency is unfolding. With baby formula supplies completely exhausted and humanitarian access sealed off for months, doctors are warning that dozens of newborns and premature babies may die within hours.
Dr. Ahmad Al Farra, director of the children and maternity unit at Nasser Medical Complex in Khan Younis, issued a grave warning on Saturday: “In less than 36 hours, we may begin losing newborns.” He described the crisis as both heartbreaking and preventable.
“There are no supplies of specialised formula, despite our repeated urgent requests. The lives of dozens of infants and premature babies are in extreme danger if this crisis is not addressed immediately,” Dr. Al Farra told The National.
Mothers, some of whom are injured, malnourished, or suffering severe trauma, are unable to breastfeed. Hospitals across Gaza are overcrowded, under-resourced, and running on fumes after months of Israeli bombardment and blockade. Now, with formula milk gone, the most vulnerable — babies — are at risk of imminent death.
A Manufactured Catastrophe: Borders Closed, Aid Blocked
The humanitarian situation in Gaza has spiraled since March, when Israeli forces intensified operations and closed all crossings, including Rafah and Kerem Shalom. These border points are the only lifeline for essential items such as medical supplies, fuel, and food — including infant formula.
International aid convoys have been unable to enter southern Gaza for weeks. United Nations agencies and NGOs have raised alarms, but efforts to pressure Israeli authorities to open crossings or allow targeted medical relief have so far failed.
“This is a deliberate chokehold on Gaza’s health infrastructure,” said a spokesperson for Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF). “The denial of formula milk is not collateral damage. It’s targeted negligence that violates international humanitarian law.”
Reports indicate that hundreds of infants are relying on specialised formula — particularly those born prematurely or with medical complications. These infants cannot digest regular milk or solid foods, making formula their only lifeline.
Doctors Plead for Urgent International Intervention
Health officials in Gaza are appealing directly to international organisations, the United Nations, and neighbouring states, calling for immediate intervention.
“If these babies die, the world cannot say it didn’t know,” Dr. Al Farra said. “We are screaming for help. This is not just a war zone — it’s a graveyard for children unless action is taken.”
Hospitals like Al-Shifa, European Gaza Hospital, and Nasser Medical Complex are running without electricity in some areas, relying on makeshift incubators, solar power, and borrowed time. Neonatal units, which require precise climate control, sterile environments, and high-nutrient formula, have become death traps under siege conditions.
Videos emerging from Gaza show mothers crying at empty shelves, nurses holding underweight babies wrapped in foil for warmth, and doctors offering sugar water as a last resort.
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