According to UNICEF statistics for June 2003, 38 per cent of Palestinian mothers reported increased difficulties in gaining access to health services and 65 per cent reported that the quality of their food had deteriorated.31 A sharp increase was observed in the number of births in ambulances or at home, causing distress and complications to mothers.32 According to the Palestinian Ministry of Health, delays at checkpoints had resulted in 46 women delivering their babies while waiting for permission to pass through, and as a result, 24 women and 27 newborn babies had died.33 The incidence of psychosocial trauma continued to climb, and it was also reported that 43 per cent of Palestinian women had requested psychosocial support.34
Le nombre de naissances se produisant dans les ambulances ou à domicile avait considérablement augmenté, provoquant inquiétude et complications chez les mères. Selon le Ministère palestinien de la santé, en raison des retards aux postes de contrôle, 46 femmes avaient accouché en attendant d'obtenir l'autorisation de franchissement, ce qui avait coûté la vie à 24 femmes et à 27 nouveau-nés.  L'incidence des traumatismes psychosociaux continuait de progresser et on avait par ailleurs signalé que 43 % des Palestiniennes avaient besoin d'un appui psychosocial.