GAZA CITY – The relentless grip of cold weather, coupled with a critical shortage of adequate shelter and heating, has led to the deaths of at least six babies in Gaza over the past two weeks. Palestinian medics and health officials are reporting increasingly desperate conditions for hundreds of thousands of displaced Palestinians. These individuals are struggling to survive in makeshift camps as temperatures plummet,creating a dire situation for the most vulnerable,especially newborns.
The crisis highlights the devastating impact of the ongoing conflict on the most vulnerable populations. newborns are acutely susceptible to the cold, and the situation is further exacerbated by the collapse of the healthcare system and shortages of essential medical supplies. The lack of resources and infrastructure is creating a perfect storm of hardship and tragedy.
Hospital Overwhelmed with Cold-Related Injuries
Doctors at the Patient’s Friends Benevolent Society (PFBS) hospital in Gaza City, located in the northern part of the territory, have reported a surge in admissions of newborn babies suffering from cold injuries. According to hospital staff, nine newborns were admitted with such injuries, and tragically, five of them have died. One baby remains in critical condition, battling for survival. The hospital is struggling to cope with the influx of patients and the limited resources available.
Two-Month-Old Dies in southern Gaza
The suffering extends beyond Gaza City. near the southern city of Khan Younis, the family of a two-month-old girl reported her death due to the cold. The infant succumbed to the freezing temperatures overnight, highlighting the desperate conditions faced by families living in tents and makeshift shelters. The lack of proper insulation and heating makes these shelters inadequate protection against the harsh winter weather.
The head of the paediatric department at the Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis told the Associated Press that it had received the body of a two-month-old girl who had died of hypothermia on Tuesday.
A video posted by a local journalist appeared to show the girl being buried by her father and uncle, who said she was named Sham Yousef al-Shambari.
He said she had been healthy and that her mother had found her stiff as wood from the cold when she tried to wake her for feeding during the night inside the family’s tent in the al-Mawasi area.
Urgent Appeal for Aid
the PFBS hospital has issued an urgent appeal for the immediate delivery of caravans and fuel to provide warmth and shelter for the estimated 945,000 displaced Palestinians currently living in tents and makeshift shelters. The lack of adequate protection from the elements is proving fatal, especially for infants. The hospital is calling on the international community to step up and provide the necessary resources to prevent further loss of life.
Accusations and Denials
The Palestinian armed group Hamas has accused Israel of obstructing the delivery of agreed-upon amounts of tents, caravans, and other essential shelter supplies during a ceasefire that began five weeks ago. However, Israel has denied these allegations. The dispute over aid delivery is further complicating the already dire humanitarian situation.
dr Muneer al-Boursh, director general of the Hamas-run health ministry in Gaza, said in a statement a total of 15 children had died due to the cold since the start of the winter.
He also alleged that Israel had failed to comply with humanitarian protocols,including allowing the entry of medical equipment,heating supplies,tents,and mobile homes since the ceasefire began on 19 January.
Hamas has previously said that Israel was required to allow in about 300,000 tents and 60,000 caravans during the six-week-long first phase of the deal.
Israeli military body Cogat said Israel was committed to and complies with the obligation to allow the entry of 4,200 humanitarian aid trucks per week into Gaza, including those carrying tents and shelter supplies.
based on the data available to us, hundreds of thousands of tents have entered the Gaza strip as the agreement came into effect, it added.
Devastation and Collapse
The scale of the crisis is immense.Most of Gaza’s 2.1 million population has been displaced multiple times during the conflict. Estimates indicate that almost 70% of buildings in the territory have been damaged or destroyed, leaving countless families without homes. The widespread destruction has left many with no option but to seek shelter in inadequate and unsafe conditions.
The healthcare system is on the brink of collapse, with only 18 of the 35 hospitals partially functional. Shortages of essential medical equipment further compound the challenges faced by medical professionals struggling to provide care. The lack of resources and infrastructure is making it increasingly difficult to provide even basic medical assistance.
Freezing temperatures
Meteorological data confirms the severity of the cold weather. Night-time temperatures in gaza have consistently fallen below 10 degrees Celsius (50 degrees Fahrenheit) over the past two weeks. On Monday night, the temperature plummeted to a chilling 3 degrees Celsius (37 degrees Fahrenheit). These freezing temperatures are exacerbating the already dire situation for displaced families.
Dr Saeed Salah,medical director of the PFBS hospital,warned in a video that three babies suffering from cold injuries,including hypothermia,had died over the same period.
He said the babies were only one or two days old, and had weighed between 1.7kg and 2kg (3.7-4.4lbs).
On Tuesday, Dr Salah and a paediatrician at the hospital, Dr Samer Lubad, reported that another two newborns had died.
the last several weeks we [had] nine neonates in our hospital.And they came with case that they call ‘cold injury’ or hypothermia,
Dr. Samer Lubad, Paediatrician at PFBS Hospital
Dr. Lubad added that Three babies survived and were treated successfully and discharged home.There is still one baby in our neonatal ICU in a critical general condition.
He further explained the root cause of the crisis: Of course, this condition is because of the cold weather and lack of safe shelters, lack of central heating, and lack of electricity in the Gaza Strip.
Uncertain Future
The humanitarian crisis unfolds amid continued uncertainty over the future of the ceasefire, which is set to expire on Saturday. The fragile truce has already been tested, with recent delays in prisoner releases further complicating the situation. The instability and uncertainty are hindering efforts to provide long-term solutions to the crisis.
The Israeli military launched a campaign to destroy Hamas in response to an unprecedented cross-border attack on 7 October 2023, in which about 1,200 peopel were killed and 251 were taken hostage.
At least 48,348 people have been killed in Gaza as then, according to the territory’s health ministry.
Conclusion
The deaths of these infants serve as a stark reminder of the devastating human cost of the ongoing conflict in Gaza. The urgent need for humanitarian aid, particularly shelter and heating, is critical to prevent further loss of life. The international community faces increasing pressure to ensure the protection of vulnerable populations and to address the root causes of this humanitarian catastrophe. The situation demands immediate and sustained action to alleviate the suffering of the people of Gaza.
