Medical officials in Gaza sound the alarm after 6 infants die from cold weather
Over the past two weeks, at least six infants have tragically lost their lives in the Gaza Strip due to cold-related injuries. This devastating situation is a result of the severe lack of adequate shelter and heating in the war-torn enclave. With temperatures plummeting, hundreds of thousands of Palestinians are left exposed to the harsh cold, living in makeshift tent camps or buildings that have been destroyed. Local officials are urgently calling for increased humanitarian aid to enter the Gaza Strip, including essential supplies such as tents, mobile homes, fuel, and heavy machinery to clear rubble, especially in light of the fragile ceasefire between Israel and Hamas.
Dr. Saeed Salah, the director of the Friends of the Patient medical facility in Gaza City, highlighted that infants aged one month or younger have been particularly vulnerable to the wave of cold weather. The hospital reported five of the six infant deaths, accounting for 60% of infant patients admitted for “cold injury,” which includes hypothermia. These infants, living in dire conditions without proper facilities for warmth, electricity, or fuel, have borne the brunt of the cold weather.
Dr. Ahmed al-Farah, head of the pediatric department at Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, confirmed the heartbreaking loss of a two-month-old girl and the treatment of two infants for frostbite. The Gaza Strip experiences cold and wet winters, with temperatures dropping below 10 degrees Celsius at night. Before the conflict, the hospital would typically see one or two cases of infant deaths from hypothermia during the winter season. However, this figure has risen to 15 this winter, underscoring the urgent need for immediate assistance.
The dire situation has left families like Wissam Hamad, a father of two, struggling to protect their children from the harsh conditions. With no operating hospitals in his area, Hamad makes a daily 16-kilometer journey to check on his three-week-old son at the Friends of the Patient medical facility. Living in tents or makeshift shelters with broken walls and windows, families have no means of heating, exposing children to unbearable cold.
Despite the ceasefire allowing for an increase in humanitarian aid, residents still face shortages of blankets, warm clothing, and fuel for fires. The suspension of $46 million in U.S. funding for operations in Gaza has further hindered critical operations, leaving essential areas underfunded. The World Health Organization highlighted the impact of these funding cuts on emergency medical services, health facility rehabilitation, and medical evacuations.
As the first phase of the ceasefire is set to end on Saturday, concerns loom over a potential resumption of hostilities and a subsequent decrease in humanitarian aid. The need for essential supplies such as shelter, heating, and medical items remains paramount to prevent further tragedies. Israeli officials are considering extending the truce in Gaza, offering a glimmer of hope amidst the ongoing humanitarian crisis.
