Lana... born into a world of horror

Agony of pregnant mum and family fleeing Gaza war

- SIMON MURPHY

LOVINGLY cradling her newborn baby, Tima looks like any mum experiencing a moment of maternal joy.

But this heartwarming scene is all the more precious in a land of death.

Lana was the first baby to be born at Save the Children's new maternity unit in war-torn Gaza. And Tima, 26 - who also has a son Hani, nearly two knows just how lucky they are to both be alive after a night of terror during her pregnancy nearly wiped her family out.

Her message to other mothers across the world is: "Be grateful for what you have. Here we have nothing."

Before the October attacks Tima was excitedly decorating a nursery for Lana at their home in Khan Younis after she and husband Omar discovered the good news in July. Then as war exploded into their lives they took in her parents, whose home had been destroyed.