The Ministry of Health in the Gaza Strip said on Thursday that "premature babies are facing catastrophic conditions in the nurseries of the Strip's hospitals."

Nasser Balbal, a consultant and head of the nursery department at the Solidarity Caravans Hospital affiliated with the Al-Shifa Complex, added, "Malnutrition and the siege have significantly increased the rate of premature births, and most newborns suffer from health complications."

He noted that the neonatal intensive care unit lacks incubators, respirators, and oxygen supplies, amid the enormous pressure it is under.

He pointed out that the nursery departments are operating on generators that are in danger of shutting down due to the severe shortage of diesel.

He stressed that children in nurseries are at grave risk due to frequent power outages, which could lead to serious complications for the lives of premature babies or even their loss.

He called on humanitarian agencies and health organizations to intervene immediately to provide the necessary medical equipment, fuel, generators, milk, and nutritional supplements, and to support medical delegations.