Doctors at Gaza’s biggest hospital say newborns are dying after facility goes ‘out of service’

More infants born prematurely and receiving care at Al-Shifa hospital are at risk of dying as the facility goes out of service, the Palestinian Health Ministry said.

Gaza's biggest hospital suffers power outage and stops 'basic functions'
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Nov. 12, 2023, 2:13 PM EST / Updated Nov. 12, 2023, 6:41 PM EST
By Chantal Da Silva, Lawahez Jabari, Marvat Azzeh and Abby Godard
TEL AVIV — Newborns and other patients at Gaza’s largest hospital are dying as power fails and resources run out, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry, which said at least 35 babies born prematurely face possible “death at any moment.”

Al-Shifa hospital in Gaza City has been “out of service” since Saturday morning, according to the ministry, as heavy bombardment and intense fighting outside the complex cause power outages amid a fuel shortage.

The Health Ministry said in a statement that three babies have died over the weekend, as well as more than 10 other patients. Muneer Al-Boursh, the Health Ministry’s general director, spoke about the deaths in a phone interview and confirmed that hundreds of patients were still in the hospital.

Dr. Marwan Abusada, a surgeon at the hospital who is also the head of international cooperation at the Health Ministry, said Saturday that one infant died “because we did not have electricity.” He confirmed the deaths of two more babies Sunday in a phone call.

He said 36 others were at risk: “If they stay in this condition, they are going to all die.”

The challenges for Gaza’s hospitals continue to mount: As fighting has intensified, ambulances have come under fire, power is going out, and dead bodies have piled up in an overwhelming surge of patients.