Gaza Miscarriages Surge Amid Harsh Humanitarian Conditions and Extreme Heat
Palestinian women in Gaza are facing a sharp rise in pregnancy complications and miscarriages, driven by severe heat, heavy physical labor, malnutrition, and repeated displacement, according to data from Gaza’s Health Ministry and reports from Anadolu. Figures released by the ministry show 3,958 miscarriages recorded in the first half of 2026, marking a rate of 208.5 cases per 1,000 live births. This represents a substantial increase compared to the 64 cases per 1,000 live births reported in the second half of 2025.
Daily Hardships and Extreme Heat Inside Tents
Pregnant women across Gaza are enduring extreme conditions inside poor-quality plastic tents that trap intense summer heat. According to reporting by Anadolu, daily survival tasks such as fetching water, washing clothes by hand, and cooking over open fires require hours of physical exertion without access to running water, electricity, or cooling systems. Hadeel al-Madani, a seven-month pregnant Palestinian woman living in a tent, described her daily existence to Anadolu as tragic. She noted that she lives in constant anxiety over her fetus, worrying that the intense heat and lack of proper medical conditions could lead to developmental problems or deformities.
Another expectant mother, Doaa al-Najjar, told Anadolu that she is suffering from severe health complications as she enters the final month of her pregnancy. Najjar reported that the trapped heat inside her tent frequently raises her body temperature, forcing her to seek medical treatment at local health clinics. Unlike her pregnancies before the war, which offered basic needs and peace of mind, Najjar stated that she currently lacks essential items for her newborn, including a bed, clothes, diapers, and milk.
Healthcare Access and Malnutrition Challenges
The humanitarian crisis has severely restricted access to adequate medical care for expectant mothers throughout the enclave. According to TRT World and Anadolu coverage, continuous power outages since the onset of the conflict in October 2023 have crippled local health infrastructure and left families struggling to secure basic nutrition. Medical facilities face immense strain in treating the growing volume of patients, while pregnant women continue to navigate dangerous physical labor and extreme temperatures that elevate health risks for both mothers and their unborn children.
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