As a doula, birth worker and antenatal educator, I am deeply committed to nurturing and supporting life. My work is rooted in compassion, care and the belief that every person deserves dignity, safety and peace.
I feel compelled to speak out against the ongoing suffering in Gaza. It is a call to recognise the shared humanity of all people and to demand an end to the devastating violence.
In light of the ongoing crisis in Gaza, I cannot ignore the devastating impact on women, children and families.
We have witnessed harrowing scenes of unimaginable grief and trauma. Children and babies crying in fear. Families displaced, homes destroyed, communities obliterated and deliberate famine/starvation. We have seen neighbourhoods reduced to dust, people fleeing for safety only to face violence wherever they go. Hospitals, schools, refugee camps – places that should provide refuge – turned into craters. Millions of people are trapped in a small strip of land, deprived of water, food, electricity, medical care and basic human dignity.
Pregnant people are giving birth without shelter, anaesthesia or antibiotics, with rising complications such as premature births and miscarriages. The statistics are staggering: at the time of writing this 62,000 Palestinian lives lost with 70% of them being women and children. Every single life matters.
The experiences of those living through conflict and displacement remind us of our shared humanity and the urgent need to support those enduring unimaginable hardship.
All pregnant women, birthing people and children have the right to live in safety and peace, free from fear and harm. Pregnancy and birth are sacred experiences and every person should have access to the support, safety and medical care they need and choose as a fundamental human right.
Access to basic human rights should be unimpeded, without discrimination or conditions that perpetuate inequality or harm. All people deserve the right to life, freedom and protection, along with access to necessities such as food, water, medicine, housing and healthcare.
I believe that no one should face the unimaginable reality of bringing life into the world amidst violence and destruction. Every person deserves the chance to give birth in safety and every baby deserves to be born into a world of stability and peace, free from the threat of harm.
Every life matters, and as we witness this tragedy, my heart is with all those seeking safety, medical care and the hope of a better tomorrow. I advocate for peace, humanitarian support and the safeguarding of essential services that ensure the wellbeing of mothers and children everywhere.
May we come together as a global community to amplify voices calling for an end to suffering, to support those in need and to build a world where every child can grow up in safety and every mother can bring life into the world without fear.
Things you can do to help
Talk to friends and family about what is happening in Gaza.
Share stories on your social media.
In solidarity, I invite you to join me in the Global Strike for Gaza, no spending on every Thursday.
