The International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) has called for a ceasefire in the ongoing Palestine-Israel war.
FIGO is the world’s largest alliance of national societies of obstetrics and Gynecology whose mission is to improve women's and girls’ health and reduce disparities in healthcare.
The federation has called on the warring parties to end their hostilities to end the untold suffering of people in the regions affected by the war.
FIGO President Anne-Beatrice Kihara has noted that all people have a right to life, health and dignity.
Kihara further noted that the violence and conflict in Israel and Gaza expose women, children, the elderly and other vulnerable groups to social, gender and reproductive injustices.
“FIGO urgently calls on all involved to end hostilities, open humanitarian corridors, provide for basic needs (food, water, energy) and ensure access to and provision of health care to all those in need,” Kihara said.
According to The BBC, Israel has blocked essential supplies to Gaza in retaliation for a Hamas attack on October 7 that left 1,300 Israelis dead.
She said it is crucial that international humanitarian laws are respected to ensure the safety, security and life of all.
“Violence, conflict and forced relocation pose extreme risks to all civilians; in particular pregnant women, women who have recently delivered, newborns and children,” Kihara said.
“When planning and giving birth under such conditions, the risks of maternal and infant death or injury are dramatically exacerbated,” she added.
This comes amid reports by the international media that at least 500 people have died in an air attack in Gaza.
According to Aljazeera, the hospital, which is run by the Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem, was struck while it was overwhelmed with thousands of Palestinians seeking shelter.
The BBC on Wednesday said Israel blamed the blast on rockets misfired by another group, Palestinian Islamic Jihad, and both sides denied blame.
At least 600,000 Palestinians have fled the northern Gaza Strip for the south since Israeli military warnings.
Protests have broken out across the occupied West Bank and major cities around the world, and many world leaders have condemned the blast, with several calling for a ceasefire.