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Gaza’s fragile survivors: Newborns battle war-linked birth defects
April 22, 2026
Posted 3 hours ago by
In a neonatal unit in Khan Younis, doctors are reporting an unprecedented surge in newborn babies born with severe congenital anomalies. Health officials say the increase is linked to wartime conditions—widespread hunger, contaminated water, collapsed healthcare services, and the stress of ongoing Israeli bombardment. Neonatal deaths rose by 50% in the past year compared to pre-war figures.
Many of the infants require specialist care that is no longer available, and some cases prove fatal within days of birth. Al Jazeera's Ibrahim al-Khalili reports from Khan Younis, Gaza. Subscribe to our channel: http://bit.ly/AJSubscribe Follow us on X: https://X.com/AJEnglish Find us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/aljazeera Check our website: http://www.aljazeera.com/ Check out our Instagram page: https://www.instagram.com/aljazeeraenglish/ Download AJE Mobile App: https://aje.news/AJEMobile #Palestine #Gaza #GazaWar #GazaHealthCrisis #IsraelGazaWar #GazaHumanitarianCrisis #GazaNeonatalCrisis #InfantHealth #IsraelWarCrimes #GazaChildren #UNICEF #WHO #HumanRights
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