Six Infants Succumb to Cold-Related Illnesses in Gaza Over Two Weeks
A premature baby receiving treatment at the Patient’s Friends Benevolent Society hospital in Gaza City on Tuesday.
At least six babies have perished over the past two weeks in Gaza due to severe cold weather and inadequate shelter, according to local healthcare providers and officials. Doctors at the PFBS hospital stated that nine newborns suffering from hypothermia-related injuries had been admitted; of these, five died with one other case in critical condition.
The family of a two-month-old girl also reported her death due to cold exposure near Khan Younis overnight.
PFBS hospital officials called for urgent supplies of caravans and fuel to improve conditions for the approximately 945,000 displaced Palestinians living in tents or makeshift shelters. Hamas has accused Israel of failing to allow sufficient amounts of shelter supplies during a five-week ceasefire that began on January 19th. However, Israel has denied this.
Most Gazans have been displaced multiple times since the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas began almost 16 months ago. Nearly 70% of Gaza’s buildings are estimated to be damaged or destroyed. Additionally, the healthcare system is in dire straits with only 18 out of 35 hospitals partially functional and a severe shortage of essential medical equipment.
According to meteorological websites, night-time temperatures in Gaza have regularly fallen below 10C (50F) over the past two weeks. They dropped to as low as 3C (37F) on Monday night following warnings by Dr Saeed Salah, a PFBS hospital medical director who reported three hypothermia-related baby deaths during that period.
On Tuesday, Dr Salah and pediatrician Dr Samer Lubad at the same hospital revealed another two newborn fatalities. “The last several weeks we [had] nine neonates in our hospital,” said Dr Lubad to Al Jazeera TV, explaining the cause was related to cold injuries or hypothermia. While three infants survived after treatment and were discharged home, one baby remains in critical condition.
The head of the pediatric department at Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis reported receiving the body of a two-month-old girl who had died from hypothermia on Tuesday. Local journalist footage appeared to show her burial by her father and uncle, identifying her as Sham Yousef al-Shambari, stating that she was healthy until discovered stiff inside their tent due to cold.
Dr Muneer al-Boursh, the director general of Hamas-run health ministry in Gaza, stated that a total of 15 children had died from cold since winter began and accused Israel of failing to comply with humanitarian protocols including allowing necessary medical equipment, heating supplies, tents, and mobile homes entry into Gaza.
Hamas previously required about 300,000 tents and 60,000 caravans during the first phase deal which ended on January 29th. Israel’s military body Cogat stated they are committed to allowing approximately 4,200 humanitarian aid trucks per week into Gaza including those carrying such supplies.
The future of the ceasefire is uncertain with indirect talks about further steps contingent upon Israeli release of Palestinian prisoners under Hamas control and hostages freed on Sunday. Israel postponed releasing some 600 Palestinian prisoners in exchange for ten hostage handovers by Hamas, citing them as being used cynically for propaganda purposes. The Israeli military launched a campaign to destroy Hamas after an unprecedented cross-border attack that left about 1,200 people dead and took 251 hostages.
According to the territory’s health ministry at least 48,348 people have been killed in Gaza since October 7th. The latest developments highlight ongoing tensions between Israel and Hamas amidst humanitarian crises persisting from years of conflict.
