DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — Palestinian medics confirmed Tuesday that at least six infants have died from hypothermia in the past two weeks in Gaza. The deaths occurred as hundreds of thousands of displaced people are living in tents and damaged buildings during a fragile ceasefire.
Gaza, a coastal territory, experiences cold, wet winters, with temperatures often falling below 10 degrees Celsius (50°F) at night. Recently, the weather has been particularly harsh, with storms blowing in from the Mediterranean Sea.
Yusuf al-Shinbari recounted the heartbreaking discovery of his 2-month-old daughter Sham’s death in the early hours of Tuesday. He found her cold to the touch, with no heartbeat. “Yesterday, I was playing with her,” he said. “I was happy with her. She was a beautiful child, like the moon.”
Dr. Ahmed al-Farah, head of the pediatric department at Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, confirmed that Sham died from severe cold exposure after being in a tent. He added that the hospital had treated two other infants for frostbite.
Saeed Salah from the Patient’s Friends Hospital in Gaza City reported that five infants, aged one month or younger, had died from the cold in the past two weeks, including a 1-month-old who passed away on Monday. Another child is now on a ventilator.
Zaher al-Wahedi, head of the Gaza Health Ministry’s records department, stated that the ministry has documented 15 deaths from hypothermia this winter, all involving children.
While a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas militants has allowed some humanitarian aid to enter Gaza, including food, residents say there are still shortages of essentials like blankets, warm clothing, and firewood.
The region has been without central electricity since the war’s early days, and fuel for generators is in short supply. Many families are left to seek shelter on damp sand or bare concrete floors.
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