Three Infant Deaths Due to Extreme Cold in Gaza
Gaza, 25 February – (PIC): Medical sources in Gaza have reported the tragic deaths of three newborn babies in the past few hours. The infants lost their lives due to severe cold and lack of proper shelter.
Dr. Saeed Salah, the Medical Director of Friends of Patients Charitable Hospital, confirmed that all three babies were less than two months old and arrived at the hospital freezing like ice blocks.
He explained that the infants were living in tents in Gaza City without any heating facilities. The extreme cold led to a rapid drop in blood circulation, which ultimately caused their deaths. This condition affects breathing, kidney function, liver, and brain activity, making survival difficult.
The Medical Director has warned about the increasing deaths of infants living in cloth and nylon tents due to extreme cold.
Gaza has been experiencing a severe polar cold wave for several days, with rapid temperature drops and strong winds. This harsh weather has destroyed hundreds of tents, while floodwaters have entered dozens of camps, making survival even more difficult.
In January, the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) stated that the cold weather and lack of shelter are leading to newborn deaths in Gaza. The agency also highlighted that 7,700 newborns are at risk due to a lack of life-saving medical care.
