Latest news with #Arafa
Observer
12-07-2025
- Health
- Observer
Blockade puts Gaza's pregnant women at severe risk
GAZA CITY: Like most women at the Gaza City hospital where she attends her pregnancy check-ups, Fatima Arafa's face looks fatigued, a sign of the malnutrition affecting her due to wartime shortages. With the war in Gaza now in its 22nd month and Israel only slightly easing an aid blockade of the Palestinian territory, shortages of everything from food to clean water have hit pregnant women particularly hard. "I am in my sixth month and I can't provide the basic minimum needs to complete this pregnancy," Arafa said before returning to the makeshift camp where she and her family found shelter after being displaced from their home in the north. "Doctor Said will give me a blood transfusion because there is no nutrition and when I want to eat or buy food to eat, I cannot because there is nothing to eat," the 34-year-old said, her face thin and pale. Medical charity Doctors Without Borders (MSF) said its teams in Gaza were witnessing "a sharp and unprecedented rise in acute malnutrition", with the number of cases at its Gaza City clinic nearly quadrupling over the past two months. "Due to widespread malnutrition among pregnant women and poor water and sanitation levels, many babies are being born prematurely. Our neonatal intensive care unit is severely overcrowded, with four to five babies sharing a single incubator," said Joanne Perry, an MSF doctor in Gaza. Fathi al Dahdouh, an obstetrician at the Al Helou Hospital where Arafa has her check-ups, said that miscarriages had soared since the start of the war. Fatima Arafa eats a meal inside her tent, where she has taken shelter with her family after fleeing their home in Gaza City. - Reuters "There are eight to nine miscarriages per day (in Gaza City), and we do not know whether this is due to the effects of war and explosive materials or due to a lack of nutrition and immunity," he said. Dahdouh said the war was particularly hard on pregnant women and new mothers. The UN Population Fund (UNFPA) warned in May that 17,000 pregnant and breastfeeding women in Gaza would require treatment for acute malnutrition over the next 11 months. The warning came as Israel enforced an aid blockade of Gaza in the hope of forcing Hamas to surrender, only letting aid back in at a trickle in late May. "They come here suffering from low blood pressure, weakness, fatigue and exhaustion due to the country's situation and the lack of nutrition," Dahdouh said. For Arafa, just getting to her medical appointments is a challenge. The area around Al Helou Hospital is relatively undamaged by the war but fuel shortages mean Arafa must walk to and from her camp in the searing heat. Once at her shelter -- a damaged house with plastic tarpaulins for walls -- Fatima, her husband Zahdi and their four children share a meal provided by a charity. The stew of pasta and lentils -- the only foods available to most in Gaza -- was cooked on a fire lit on the floor tiles of the home for lack of cooking gas. UN agencies and aid groups say the volume of aid reaching Gaza is still not nearly enough and health workers are working in dire conditions. - AFP
Gulf Today
11-07-2025
- Health
- Gulf Today
Blockade leaves Gaza's pregnant women hungry and at risk
Like most women at the Gaza City hospital where she attends her pregnancy check-ups, Fatima Arafa's face looks fatigued, a sign of the malnutrition affecting her due to wartime shortages. With the war in Gaza now in its 22nd month and Israel only slightly easing an aid blockade of the Palestinian territory, shortages of everything from food to clean water have hit pregnant women particularly hard. "I am in my sixth month and I can't provide the basic minimum needs to complete this pregnancy," Arafa told AFP before returning to the makeshift camp where she and her family found shelter after being displaced from their home in the north. "Doctor Said will give me a blood transfusion because there is no nutrition and when I want to eat or buy food to eat, I cannot because there is nothing to eat," the 34-year-old said, her face thin and pale. Medical charity Doctors Without Borders (MSF) said its teams in Gaza were witnessing "a sharp and unprecedented rise in acute malnutrition", with the number of cases at its Gaza City clinic nearly quadrupling over the past two months. Fatima Arafa undergoes medical check up at Al Helou Hospital in Gaza City. Reuters "Due to widespread malnutrition among pregnant women and poor water and sanitation levels, many babies are being born prematurely. Our neonatal intensive care unit is severely overcrowded, with four to five babies sharing a single incubator," said Joanne Perry, an MSF doctor in Gaza. Fathi Al Dahdouh, an obstetrician at the Al Helou Hospital where Arafa has her check-ups, told AFP that miscarriages had soared since the start of the war. "There are eight to nine miscarriages per day (in Gaza City), and we do not know whether this is due to the effects of war and explosive materials or due to a lack of nutrition and immunity," he said. Exhaustion Dahdouh said the war was particularly hard on pregnant women and new mothers. The UN Population Fund (UNFPA) warned in May that 17,000 pregnant and breastfeeding women in Gaza would require treatment for acute malnutrition over the next 11 months. The warning came as Israel enforced an aid blockade of Gaza in the hope of forcing Hamas to surrender, only letting aid back in at a trickle in late May. Fatima Arafa eats a meal inside her tent, where she has taken shelter with her family after fleeing their home, in Gaza City. Reuters "They come here suffering from low blood pressure, weakness, fatigue and exhaustion due to the country's situation and the lack of nutrition," Dahdouh told AFP. For Arafa, just getting to her medical appointments is a challenge. The area around Al Helou Hospital is relatively undamaged by the war but fuel shortages mean Arafa must walk to and from her camp in the searing heat. Once at her shelter — a damaged house with plastic tarpaulins for walls — Fatima, her husband Zahdi and their four children share a meal provided by a charity. The stew of pasta and lentils — the only foods available to most in Gaza — was cooked on a fire lit on the floor tiles of the home for lack of cooking gas. UN agencies and aid groups say the volume of aid reaching Gaza is still not nearly enough and health workers are working in dire conditions. Agence France-Presse
New Indian Express
11-07-2025
- Health
- New Indian Express
'Unprecedented rise in acute malnutrition': Israeli blockade leaves Gaza's pregnant women at risk
GAZA CITY: Like most women at the Gaza City hospital where she attends her pregnancy check-ups, Fatima Arafa's face looks fatigued, a sign of the malnutrition affecting her due to wartime shortages. With the war in Gaza now in its 22nd month and Israel only slightly easing an aid blockade of the Palestinian territory, shortages of everything from food to clean water have hit pregnant women particularly hard. "I am in my sixth month and I can't provide the basic minimum needs to complete this pregnancy," Arafa told AFP before returning to the makeshift camp where she and her family found shelter after being displaced from their home in the north. "Doctor Said will give me a blood transfusion because there is no nutrition and when I want to eat or buy food to eat, I cannot because there is nothing to eat," the 34-year-old said, her face thin and pale. Medical charity Doctors Without Borders (MSF) said its teams in Gaza were witnessing "a sharp and unprecedented rise in acute malnutrition." More than 700 pregnant and breastfeeding women, and nearly 500 children, with severe and moderate malnutrition were enrolled at two of their clinics. Numbers at the Gaza City clinic almost quadrupled in under two months, from 293 cases in May to 983 cases at the beginning of July, it said in a statement. "Due to widespread malnutrition among pregnant women and poor water and sanitation levels, many babies are being born prematurely," said Joanne Perry, an MSF doctor in Gaza. "Our neonatal intensive care unit is severely overcrowded, with four to five babies sharing a single incubator." Fathi al-Dahdouh, an obstetrician at the Al-Helou Hospital where Arafa has her check-ups, told AFP that miscarriages had soared since the start of the war and there were eight to nine per day in Gaza City.
Arab Times
28-06-2025
- Business
- Arab Times
Lebanese Business Council honors outgoing Chargé d'Affaires
KUWAIT CITY, June 28: In a gesture of loyalty and appreciation for his distinguished diplomatic career, the Lebanese Business Council in Kuwait organized a farewell ceremony in honor of Chargé d'Affaires at the Lebanese Embassy Ahmed Arafa, on the occasion of the end of his diplomatic mission in Kuwait and his appointment as Permanent Representative of the Lebanese Republic to the United Nations in New York. The ceremony was held under the patronage of Dean of the Diplomatic Corps and Ambassador of Tajikistan to Kuwait Ambassador Zubaydullo Zubaydzoda. Representative of the Kuwaiti Ministry of Foreign Affairs from the Protocol Department Muhanna Al- Muhanna, members of the diplomatic corps, economic and social figures, and representatives of the Lebanese community attended the event to express their sincere appreciation for Arafa's contributions throughout his tenure in Kuwait. President of the Lebanese Business Council in Kuwait Ali Hassan Khalil delivered a heartfelt speech on behalf of the council and the Lebanese community. He said 'since assuming your duties, you have been a symbol of modern diplomacy. You combined political, economic and social representation. You are Lebanon's honorable voice abroad and a shining example of its values and morals. We will never forget your oversight of the rehabilitation of the Lebanese mission headquarters to become a unifying home for all Lebanese. Kuwait will not forget the 'Kuwait Needs Your Safety' campaign, which embodied your humanity and demonstrated the highest value of solidarity between the two brotherly peoples. Today we bid farewell to the Chargé d'Affaires ... to welcome the Permanent Representative of Lebanon to the United Nations, the bearer of the nation's message in international forums, with strong confidence in your ability to represent Lebanon with the highest levels of responsibility and competence.' Meanwhile, Arafa expressed his deep gratitude. He stated 'I stand today overwhelmed with the love of my friends and colleagues, and with the warmth of a country that embraced me as it embraces its own people. Kuwait has truly been my second home, with the generosity, authenticity and sincere love I have witnessed.' He extended his deep gratitude to the Lebanese community that he described as 'the beating heart,' emphasizing that it has been the best support and an honorable symbol for Lebanon. He added: 'I carry with me these memories, these relationships, and these values, to represent Lebanon at the United Nations, carrying its voice and true image based on dignity, justice, diversity and humanity.' Zubaydov, praised Arafa's professional and humanitarian qualities, emphasizing that he 'was an example of a professional and proactive diplomat who worked tirelessly to develop Lebanese-Kuwaiti relations and consolidate them. His fingerprints will remain firmly in the memory of the missions and the records of bilateral relations, especially after the success of the recent visit of His Excellency the Lebanese President to Kuwait, which he contributed to organizing and making a success in an effective manner.' The ceremony witnessed a remarkable interaction among the attendees who praised Arafa's professional and friendly behavior, and his continuous presence at various events of interest to the Lebanese community. At the end of the ceremony, an honorary shield was presented on behalf of the Lebanese Business Council, in appreciation of his efforts and as a token of love from his fellow citizens in Kuwait, with best wishes for his success in his new position in New York.
Kuwait Times
24-06-2025
- Business
- Kuwait Times
Arab envoys bid farewell to Lebanese Chargé d'Affaires
KUWAIT: Arab ambassadors accredited in Kuwait gather for a photo during a farewell ceremony held in honor of Lebanese Chargé d'Affaires Ahmed Arafa. KUWAIT: The Arab Diplomatic Corps in Kuwait held a farewell ceremony on Monday afternoon in honor of Ahmed Arafa, Chargé d'Affaires of the Lebanese Embassy in Kuwait, marking the end of his mission as he prepares to take up a new post as Lebanon's Permanent Representative to the United Nations. The event, hosted by Palestinian Ambassador and Dean of the Arab Diplomatic Corps Rami Tahboub, brought together ambassadors and Arab diplomats to pay tribute to Arafa's role in nurturing strong ties between Lebanon and Kuwait during his time in office. In his speech, Ambassador Tahboub commended Arafa for his dedication and effective efforts in promoting bilateral relations, thanking him for 'the great energy he invested in strengthening the bonds between Lebanon and Kuwait.' He also conveyed the collective wishes of the Arab diplomatic community for success in his new role, saying Arafa will now serve Lebanon and Arab causes 'in the most prominent international forum.' Arafa expressed deep gratitude for the gesture, thanking Ambassador Tahboub and all his Arab colleagues for their support. He praised the fraternal spirit that defined his work in Kuwait, and extended special thanks to the Kuwaiti leadership and people for their longstanding support to Lebanon and the broader Arab region. 'I leave Kuwait with great respect and appreciation for this country — its Amir, government, and people — who have stood by Lebanon in both calm and crisis,' Arafa said. The ceremony concluded with a symbolic gesture of appreciation, as Ambassador Tahboub presented a commemorative gift to Arafa on behalf of the Arab ambassadors accredited in Kuwait.
