120 incubator Gaza babies at risk

The lives of at least 120 newborn babies on incubators in war-torn Gaza's hospitals are at risk as fuel runs out in the besieged enclave, the UN children's agency warned yesterday.

Hospitals face a dire lack of medicines, fuel, and water not only for the thousands wounded but also for routine patients.

"We have currently 120 neonates who are in incubators, out of which we have 70 neonates with mechanical ventilation, and of course this is where we are extremely concerned," said Unicef spokesman Jonathan Crickx. Power is one of the main worries for the seven specialist wards across Gaza treating premature babies to help with breathing and provide critical support.