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Mother in Gaza Longs for Triplets in Jerusalem Hospital

Palestinian triplets from al-Bayouk family, born prematurely and separated from their mother who had to leave them at hospital in Jerusalem to recover as she had to return to Gaza after her Israeli-issued permit expired before the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict, are cared for at Makassed hospital. Reuters
Palestinian triplets from al-Bayouk family, born prematurely and separated from their mother who had to leave them at hospital in Jerusalem to recover as she had to return to Gaza after her Israeli-issued permit expired before the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict, are cared for at Makassed hospital. Reuters
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Mother in Gaza Longs for Triplets in Jerusalem Hospital

Palestinian triplets from al-Bayouk family, born prematurely and separated from their mother who had to leave them at hospital in Jerusalem to recover as she had to return to Gaza after her Israeli-issued permit expired before the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict, are cared for at Makassed hospital. Reuters
Palestinian triplets from al-Bayouk family, born prematurely and separated from their mother who had to leave them at hospital in Jerusalem to recover as she had to return to Gaza after her Israeli-issued permit expired before the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict, are cared for at Makassed hospital. Reuters

In August 2023, Hanan al-Bayouk travelled from Gaza to Israeli-occupied Arab East Jerusalem for a high-risk birth. Her triplets, born prematurely and underweight, are doing well, but she had to leave them shortly after they were born and does not know when she will be able to hold them again.

Israel's restrictions on the movement of Palestinians meant 26-year-old al-Bayouk returned to Gaza while her babies were still in intensive care for fear of falling foul of the law.

By the time they were ready to go home, war had broken out and she got stuck, with video calls her only way of keeping in touch.

Her daughters Najwa, Nour and Najmah, are being cared for at the Al-Makassed hospital, where there are colourful drawings on the walls, toys, and baby walkers for them to scoot around in.

It is worlds away from conditions for children in Gaza, which has been blockaded and pounded by Israeli forces since Hamas attacked Israel on Oct. 7.

In March, the UN children's agency said over 13,000 children had been killed in the Gaza conflict, adding that many kids were suffering from severe malnutrition and did not "even have the energy to cry."

The triplets are developing normally, said Dr. Hatem Khammash, director of neonatal intensive care at the hospital.

"Good mental development, also their breathing is good," he said. "The only thing that makes us sad, is that they are far away from their mother."

Doctors and nurses communicate with Hanan via Whatsapp if the family is lucky enough to get internet in Gaza, Reuters reported.

Communications have been hammered by the war, which was triggered when Hamas militants crossed from Gaza into Israel, killing 1,200 people and taking back more than 250 hostages.

Israel's subsequent military offensive has killed more than 41,206 Palestinians, wounded 95,337 and flattened many parts of the densely populated strip. Internationally mediated ceasefire negotiations have shown little sign of a breakthrough.

In the meantime, staff at the Al-Makassed hospital, repeat "Mama", "Mama" to encourage the girls to focus on their mother's small image on the phone as they reach out to grab the screen.

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Deadly Floods Bring Relief to Moroccan Farmers

Residents walk on a flooded street in Morocco's Ouarzazate city on September 7, 2024. (AFP)
Residents walk on a flooded street in Morocco's Ouarzazate city on September 7, 2024. (AFP)
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Deadly Floods Bring Relief to Moroccan Farmers

Residents walk on a flooded street in Morocco's Ouarzazate city on September 7, 2024. (AFP)
Residents walk on a flooded street in Morocco's Ouarzazate city on September 7, 2024. (AFP)

When powerful thunderstorms hit Morocco's arid south, they brought deadly floods but also provided some relief to farmers as the country grapples with its worst drought in nearly 40 years.

The torrential rains at the weekend triggered floods that killed at least 18 people in areas of southern Morocco that straddle the Sahara desert.

While the rain was devastating in part, it also brought some relief to farmers growing crops like almonds, dates and cereals.

"These rains will bring a breath of fresh air" to the south, said agronomist Mohamed Taher Srairi.

"But it has not rained elsewhere, and the country remains under a heavy structural drought."

The unusual rainfall resulted from a tropical air mass shifting northward, according to Lhoussaine Youabd, spokesman for Morocco's General Directorate of Meteorology.

Experts say climate change is making extreme weather, such as storms and droughts, more frequent and intense.

Morocco is one of the world's most water-stressed nations, with frequent droughts affecting a third of the population employed in agriculture.

Near areas of the northwest African country lashed by the weekend's rain, water levels in dams have risen and groundwater is expected to replenish.

The four Draa Oued Noun dams, which supply areas impacted by the floods in the Ouarzazate region, saw water levels increase by 19 percent to 191 million cubic meters, according to Youssef Ben Hamou, director of the agency managing the barrages.

The region of Ouarzazate, located in Morocco's south, sits between the Atlantic Ocean, the Atlas Mountains and the Sahara.

Water levels of the large Ouarzazate dam climbed to 69 million cubic meters, roughly 70 percent of its capacity, while levels at the Fask dam rose by 10 million cubic meters in just 24 hours.

- Rains bring hope -

"The rains have proved to be a boon for the region, because these reserves will be able to ensure drinking water supply which remains a priority," said Ben Hamou.

Mohamed Jalil, a water resources consultant, said the downpours would help to replenish soil saturation levels, although that usually requires rainfall over time after a long drought.

"This will bring respite to the oases, particularly for agriculture," he said.

The psychological impact of the long-awaited rains was also significant, he said, especially after a harsh, dry summer.

The massive rainfall had "brought hope" to the drought-hit area, he said.

The Moroccan government has pledged financial aid to the flooded areas.

During a visit to Ouarzazate this week, Agriculture Minister Mohammed Sadiki announced the allocation of $4.1 million to repair damaged infrastructure, support agriculture and help those affected by the floods.

Although no further downpours are expected in the immediate future, climatologists warn that Morocco must better prepare for weather disasters driven by global warming.

Moroccans should be ready "for new phenomena whose frequency and violence are unknown, given the effects of climate change", said Mohamed Said Karrouk, a climatology professor at Hassan II University in Casablanca.