How will Yasmeen and her newborn triplets make it through winter in Gaza?

Birth under bombs

Yasmeen’s pregnancy, once a source of joy, became fraught with fear and hardship as the war escalated.

“I was pregnant with triplets and had to be displaced several times,” she says. The war made it so she couldn’t get necessary medical care, putting her and her unborn children at risk.

“I suffered from malnourishment during my pregnancy,” she says. “Medications were nearly impossible to get, and my husband went through so much to find them.

“Every time I got displaced, the Israelis used to bomb the area, so I was displaced because of the airstrikes, and I was displaced because of the heavy bombardment of Gaza city, and because I needed to get a surgery in my uterus because I was pregnant with triplets.

“I couldn’t even get the surgery.”

Nevertheless, the babies were born healthy in Gaza city.

Adapting to the new (ab)normal

“We were very happy when we heard that I’m pregnant with three embryos,” Yasmeen recalls.

“I thought at the time that my mom, family, mother-in-law and sisters would all help raise the children. I had certain dreams, but the reality, unfortunately, was something else.

“I used to dream of giving birth to my children in a safe environment and I used to dream of holding a week of celebrations when they got here, to mark their arrival with my family and loved ones. But it was God’s plan for them to arrive under difficult circumstances. The circumstances forced me to give birth far away from them, and it’s only my husband and I now.

“We have people who help, but family and relatives are different.

“I used to say I wanted to give my mom one of the babies to help me raise the children, my mother-in-law one and keep one to take care of. But raising the children fell on our shoulders, my husband and I.

“It is very difficult.”

The airstrikes continued during the babies’ first months. Yasmeen and her family had to leave their temporary shelter and move south.

Meanwhile, the cost of food skyrocketed and access to basic necessities became harder and harder. Even now, the rising prices of essentials, including baby formula and diapers, continue to overwhelm her.

Before the war, a pack of diapers would have cost about 12 shekels, or $3.50, and Similac stage 2 formula was roughly 10 shekels, or $4.

“They need Similac stage 2 now,” she says. “And it is not even available in the market. So now I am forced to eat more to help with my breastfeeding. And diapers are 220 shekels for one pack—imagine how many my babies need in a month.”

“But my children’s needs come first”

UNICEF says that a baby is born every ten minutes in the Gaza Strip. Yasmeen’s are just three of them. Hundreds of thousands of people are suffering under similar conditions in northern Gaza, where Israeli blockades and military operations have brought catastrophe.

Displaced families, like Yasmeen’s, are enduring overcrowded shelters, soaring prices, and limited access to essentials, all while under constant threat of airstrikes.

“I thought the war would end in a week or two,” Yasmeen recalls. “We left with just two outfits, but we still haven’t returned.”

The reality of displacement has made survival incredibly difficult for Yasmeen and others. Without access to proper food, healthcare, or basic items, she is left worrying about her children’s future. Despite her constant fears, Yasmeen remains committed to keeping her babies safe and healthy.

“I suffer so much,” she says. “But my children’s needs come first.”

“We are resisting all the difficult things. But I worry every day for my children’s safety—any flying rock from an airstrike could hurt them.”

She also remains determined to survive.

“We are steadfast,” she says. “And pray for an end to this war.”

CARE was among the first international organizations to respond to the recent Gaza crisis, distributing essential supplies such as water, medical, and hygiene items. CARE and its partners provided primary healthcare, along with psychological support and medications. CARE and its partners also installed emergency latrines, supported solid waste management, and promoted hygiene awareness. CARE continues to call for an immediate ceasefire, the return of all hostages, and the passage of unfettered humanitarian aid into Gaza.