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Help Us Provide Fortifying Baby Milk Formula to New & Expectant Mothers in Gaza
Nearly a year of attacks on Gaza and its essential civilian infrastructure (including hospitals) has created an unprecedented health catastrophe for over 1.7 million people, with Gaza’s medical institutions struggling to meet the basic nutritional and health needs of its citizens. Among Gaza’s displaced families are expecting mothers, pregnant women who are at risk of bearing malnourished children or new mothers, and breastfeeding women who have few calories to spare for breast milk. These mothers lack access to proper prenatal and postnatal care, which is crucial for their health and the health of their babies. Gaza’s healthcare facilities are either completely or largely destroyed, and under-equipped and understaffed, leaving mothers and infants at high risk of complications during childbirth and beyond. Without means to access basic needs including food, clothing, shelter and basic medicine, Gaza’s young and expecting mothers face overwhelming challenges to nurture infants in the chaos of a warzone. Currently, they rely solely on infant nutrition aid to survive a widespread child nutrition crisis.
Gaza’s Infants, in particular, are at a critical stage of development, requiring adequate nutrition to support growth and cognitive development and are at an extreme risk of malnutrition during this formative period. UNICEF reports that 1 in 3 children under 2 years of age suffers from acute malnutrition in North Gaza and we understand the need for an immediate intervention to mitigate this crisis. Understanding these harsh facts, Aghosh UK and Alkhidmat Foundation Pakistan are collaborating with local partners for the Gaza Baby Milk Project, an initiative to provide fortifying baby milk formula to new and expecting mothers to tackle infant malnutrition in Gaza. We are writing this article to make a strong case for our Gaza Baby Milk Appeal so generous donors like you can support Gaza’s children. Read on to learn more.
Interested UK donors can support Aghosh UK’s humanitarian efforts by visiting our website and donating £50 for 1 Month Baby Supply, £100 for 2 Month Baby Milk Supply, or Select a Custom Donation. Every donation you make can help us save an innocent life. Remember you can increase your donation by 25% at no extra cost to you, by adding Gift Aid if you are a UK taxpayer.
Malnutrition is described as a medical condition that develops when the body is deprived of the essential vitamins, minerals and other nutrients it needs to maintain healthy tissues and normal organ function. Undernutrition usually occurs when essential nutrients are not consumed or when they are excreted more rapidly from the body without being replaced. Malnutrition in developing countries is usually caused by nutritional deficiencies. It affects all people lacking access to nutrition in conflict zones but is particularly damaging to vulnerable groups like women, children and infants. Malnutrition in infants can prove to be particularly lethal as they become vulnerable to diseases.
Malnutrition has multiple categories, like undernutrition, micronutrient deficiencies, overnutrition, hidden hunger and protein-energy malnutrition. To improve health outcomes for newborn children in Gaza, focusing on maternal foetal malnutrition and infant malnutrition is key. Maternal Foetal malnutrition, common in infants is an undertreated problem with two main causes, poor maternal nutrition & placental insufficiency. NIH notes that maternal malnutrition contributes to almost half of all deaths of children under the age of 5, and has implications in both short and long-term consequences among foetal, neonatal and adult life. Babies born under 2.5 kg weight at full term are considered malnourished in the womb. Proper nutrition is fundamental to a child’s development, and a lack of proper nutrition impacts their health, educational attainment, and future outcomes, prosperity and well-being.
Aghosh UK and Alkhidmat Foundation Pakistan are playing their part in providing fortifying baby milk formula to new and expecting mothers of Gaza. We are ready and willing to support Gazan children.
A USAID technical guidance brief concludes that optimal maternal and infant nutrition in the first 1,000 days after birth ensures healthy mothers and newborns, and their positive development. It also sets up the infant’s immune system to combat infectious diseases, decreases vulnerabilities and helps break the negative cycle of disease and undernutrition that usually leads to infant mortality. Malnourished infants face a great risk of irreversible health damage like stunted growth, cognitive impairment, weakened immune systems, developmental delays, chronic illnesses, vision problems, heightened susceptibility to infections, and permanent organ damage. These conditions jeopardise their current health and also hinder their long-term physical and cognitive development, adding to and perpetuating Gaza’s health crisis.
Humanitarian interventions can help significantly reduce child mortality rates and enhance overall community health by tackling malnutrition. Emergency interventions in conflict zones and disaster-stricken areas can provide access to adequate nutrition, essential healthcare services, and preventive measures. These interventions save lives by providing critical care when it is most needed.
A healthy infant grows into a healthy child and later, a healthy adult. Prioritising maternal and infant health reduces long-term healthcare burdens on strained systems of developing countries like Palestine.
Alkhidmat Foundation Supplies Canned Baby Milk in Deir el-Balah Refugee Camps
Experts at Johns Hopkins Medicine emphasise that breastmilk is the perfect food for a baby until they are at least 6 months old as it has just the right amount of nutrients and is gentle on the infant’s developing stomach, intestine and other body systems. Breast milk is the optimal source of nutrition for infants, containing a perfect balance of proteins, fats, vitamins, & minerals. It also provides antibodies that help protect against infections and diseases. However, infant formula is a reliable alternative for mothers who cannot breastfeed due to medical or personal reasons, or because of maternal malnutrition and stress due to challenges such as those we see in Gaza. Modern formulas are designed to closely mimic the nutritional profile of breast milk, ensuring that infants receive the necessary nutrients for their growth.
Baby milk formula is ideal for infant nutrition aid in humanitarian crisis zones like Gaza due to its practicality, safety, and nutritional completeness. In conflict zones, or at times of attack, siege and displacement, breastfeeding may not always be possible due to stress, malnutrition, or separation of mothers and infants. Baby milk formula provides a reliable alternative, ensuring infants receive essential nutrients for their growth and development. It is easy to transport and store, making it suitable for quick distribution.
For many infants in Gaza, access to nutritious baby milk can be the difference between life and death. The Baby Milk Appeal focuses on providing high-quality, fortified baby milk to meet the nutritional needs of Gaza’s infants.
The Baby Milk Appeal, spearheaded by Aghosh UK in collaboration with Alkhidmat Foundation Pakistan, is dedicated to combating Gaza’s health crisis and shipping infant malnutrition aid and emergency food aid to Gaza. We aim to provide lifesaving nutrition to the most vulnerable mothers and their infants, ensuring they have the essential nourishment required for healthy development. We’re bolstering this initiative with a multi-faceted approach to community services for displaced families by providing clean drinking water in Deir al-Balah, distributing freshly cooked meals in Khan Younis, delivering packaged food supplies, providing basic healthcare and setting up Alkhidmat Tent Schools. Visit our Facebook Page below to stay updated on the latest news.
Alkhidmat Baby Milk Distribution for Newborns at Shuhada Al Aqsa Hospital in Gaza
Of the estimated 50,000 pregnant women in Gaza, nearly 183 women give birth daily in unimaginable conditions. Of these, 15% are expected to need additional medical care due to pregnancy or birth-related complications. With two-thirds of hospitals and nearly 80% of healthcare facilities now completely shut down, pregnant women are now forced to give birth amid the rubble or in tents or cars because they lack access to appropriate medical facilities. Without timely intervention, these mothers and their infants face a bleak future. In June 2024, the UN WHO Director General raised the alarm on child malnutrition in Gaza reporting that more than 8,000 youngsters have been diagnosed and treated for acute malnutrition, including 1,600 children with the most dangerous form of the condition.
The Aghosh UK Gaza Baby Milk Appeal aims to bridge this critical gap by ensuring that every infant has access to the essential nutrients they need to survive and thrive. This is an initiative to source and deliver up to 20,000 Cans of Baby Milk Formula to provide vital, life-saving nutrition to Gaza’s newborns. Your donations will allow us to bolster our efforts in procuring baby milk, acquiring permits for cross-border delivery, and transporting to warehouses, shipping to Gaza’s affected areas, coordinating with our local partners and finally, distributing supplies to displaced families with new and expecting mothers. Immediate action can save lives and prevent long-term health complications for infants. You can play your part in supporting Aghosh UK by visiting our website and donating a modest sum to secure baby milk for Gaza. Every pound you contribute helps us inch closer to our goal.
Aghosh UK and Alkhidmat Foundation Pakistan consult nutritional experts to procure fortified formulas enriched with essential vitamins, minerals, & proteins necessary for healthy growth and development. These formulas meet UK nutritional standards and include ingredients such as fortified milk proteins, essential fatty acids, and micronutrients like iron & calcium to support immune function, bone development, and cognitive growth.
Aghosh UK collaborates with reputable suppliers to source high-quality, nutrient-rich, fortifying baby milk packaged hygienically in moisture-free tin cans. This process involves rigorous checks and quality control measures to guarantee that the milk meets international standards. We only source registered brands from reliable sources meeting safety standards for infant nutrition.
Proper warehousing is essential for maintaining the quality and safety of canned baby milk. After procurement from markets, our volunteers and local partners transport relief supplies to secure, temperature-controlled storage facilities protecting them from contamination and spoilage.
Our logistics teams coordinate with local and international partners to employ efficient means of transport via land, sea and air to deliver relief supplies like canned baby milk formula. Routes are carefully planned to optimise delivery times and minimise delays, particularly in areas affected by conflict or logistical challenges.
Our charity collaborates with local organisations like PIMA Palestine and Medical Aid for Palestine and a wide network of community leaders to identify and target areas with the highest need. We prioritise timely deliveries to hospitals, clinics, community centres & refugee shelters where infants and young children urgently require nutritional support. By leveraging local knowledge and partnerships we are maximising our intervention’s impact and coverage. Implementing this careful planning is an essential contribution to treat and prevent infant malnutrition in Gaza.
The time to act is now and Gaza’s infants cannot wait. Join our Aghosh UK Gaza Baby Milk Appeal and help tackle infant malnutrition. Your support of Gazan children is crucial and urgently needed.
This maternal and infant healthcare intervention helps us provide essential nutrition to malnourished infants and your support can take various forms. We urge you to donate baby milk for Gaza to provide a vital lifeline for sustaining our humanitarian efforts by procuring, warehousing, transporting and distributing up to 20,000 cans of baby milk formula among new and expecting mothers in Gaza. Donors can select from multiple donation options i.e. £50 for 1 Month Baby Supply, £100 for 2 Month Baby Milk Supply, or give a custom donation – remember you can add Gift Aid of 25% at no extra cost to you if you are a UK taxpayer. Your support can help us support and save the innocent lives of Gaza’s infants born into a humanitarian catastrophe.
Community involvement is also key to our mutual success. We strongly encourage you to spread the word, engage your networks, and encourage others to support Aghosh UK’s work.
Get in touch with us if you are eager to organise local fundraising events, spread awareness through social media, and mobilise your community for this great humanitarian cause.
Let’s foster a sense of solidarity and compassion within the UK’s local communities so our collective efforts amplify the impact.
In conclusion, the Baby Milk Appeal organized by Aghosh UK in collaboration with Alkhidmat Foundation Pakistan aims to address infant malnutrition in Gaza. Through this initiative, we strive to provide vital, life-saving nutrition to the most vulnerable mothers and their infants, ensuring they have the essential nourishment required for healthy development. By procuring, warehousing, transporting, and distributing fortified baby milk formula, we hope to bridge the critical gap and contribute to the well-being of Gaza’s infants. Your support can make a significant difference in the lives of these innocent young ones. Join us in this humanitarian effort and be a part of the change.
