Rising maternal malnutrition in Gaza drives up newborn mortality

Newborn deaths in Gaza have increased by 75 percent compared to pre-war rates, according to new data from UNICEF. This surge is driven by widespread maternal malnutrition, with 38 percent of pregnant women screened being diagnosed with acute malnutrition. The data also shows a significant rise in the number of low-birth-weight babies, who are far more likely to die. Health officials and aid agencies attribute the crisis to Israel's war on the besieged enclave and its continued blocking of vital humanitarian aid.