Urgent Appeal: Stop Preventable Newborn Deaths
Urgent Appeal: Stop Preventable Newborn Deaths
Born into Crisis: The Struggle for Neonatal Care in the West Bank
The need for improved neonatal care in the West Bank has long been recognized, but the escalating humanitarian and protection crisis has made it even more critical. Military operations, settler violence, increased movement restrictions since October 7, 2023, and an overwhelmed healthcare system have created life-threatening barriers for newborns requiring urgent medical attention. Without immediate intervention, preventable deaths and long-term disabilities among premature and critically ill newborns will continue to rise.
An Urgent Call for Action
Juzoor for Health and Social Development and Al-Makassed Hospital, in full collaboration with the Neonatal Network in the West Bank, are launching a coordinated intervention to reduce the risks of preventable newborn deaths and disabilities. In line with the Ministry of Health’s priorities and the Every Newborn Action Plan (ENAP), this initiative responds to the escalating neonatal health crisis. We urgently call on humanitarian organizations, health partners, and donors to support the establishment of a streamlined referral and emergency transport system, ensuring timely, safe, and reliable neonatal transfers. Without immediate action, newborns in critical condition face life-threatening delays and irreversible health consequences.
Fragile Lives Without Protection
Movement restrictions—already at an all-time high in September 2024, with 790 obstacles, including flying checkpoints, roadblocks, gates, and other barriers—have intensified even further following the fragile ceasefire in Gaza on January 19, 2025, severely impeding access to healthcare. Journeys that should take minutes now stretch into agonizing hours due to checkpoint closures, forced detours, prolonged delays, and, in some cases, outright denial of passage. At the same time, intensified settler violence and Israeli military incursions especially into northern West Bank refugee camps, and the frequent closure of village entrances have transformed entire communities into isolated enclaves, cutting them off from critical care. Attacks on healthcare have further undermined access to essential services, with the World Health Organization documenting 694 assaults on health facilities, ambulances, and medical staff since October 2023. Given this escalating crisis, the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) reports that the risk of preventable complications, stillbirths, and maternal deaths is rising, with many women forced to give birth at home or en route. Premature infants requiring incubators and newborns suffering from birth complications face increasing ... READ FULL APPEAL >>