As conflict continues to ravage Gaza, pregnant women in the enclave are facing unprecedented challenges.

The recent Israeli airstrikes have left expectant mothers fearing for the safety of their unborn children and their own lives, reports CNN.

Also read: Palestinians flee northern Gaza after Israel orders 1 million to evacuate as ground attack looms

Khulood Khaled, eight months pregnant, was awoken by the sound of Israeli airstrikes, which filled her room with black smoke, making it hard to breathe. Fearing for her life and her baby's well-being, she embarked on a perilous journey from the al-Karama district in the northern Gaza Strip to the southern city of Khan Younis.

The journey was fraught with danger, and she now struggles to find even basic sustenance, facing food shortages and a lack of electricity and running water, said the report.

Also read: Under heavy bombing, Palestinians in Gaza move from place to place, only to discover nowhere is safe

According to the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), there are approximately 50,000 pregnant women in Gaza, with 10 percent of them expected to give birth in the coming month. These women are facing what UNFPA Representative for the State of Palestine, Dominic Allen, described as a "double nightmare".

The current conflict in Gaza is distinct from previous rounds of violence, with Israel launching an unprecedented number of airstrikes, equivalent to the total during the entire 2014 Gaza-Israel conflict, the report also said.

Also read: Palestinian medics in Gaza struggle to save lives under Israeli siege and bombardment

Israel has also imposed a "complete siege" on the territory, leading to shortages of water, electricity, goods, and fuel. Human rights organisations have condemned this as "collective punishment" and a "war crime."

Many Gazans have tried to heed Israel's call to evacuate from northern Gaza, but this has proven to be a challenging endeavour, particularly for the sick, elderly, and pregnant women. Some worry about the safety of the escape routes, and harrowing scenes of explosions along these routes have been documented, the report said.

Nardeen Fares, nine months pregnant with her first child, expressed her concerns about giving birth in the midst of a conflict. With an exodus of people to Khan Younis, where hospitals are already overwhelmed, she fears the unknown circumstances during her labor, it said.

The situation in Gaza's healthcare system is dire, with a lack of resources and medical services due to fuel shortages. The World Health Organization has warned that the health system is on the brink of collapse, putting the most vulnerable patients, including newborns and those in intensive care, at risk, added the report.

The UN has declared the situation in Gaza as catastrophic, and UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warns that the Middle East is on the "verge of the abyss." As the world watches, Gaza's residents, including pregnant mothers, continue to suffer the devastating consequences of this ongoing conflict.