The harsh winter gripping Gaza has claimed the life of another infant, bringing the number of Palestinian babies who have frozen to death since November to four. Health officials report that at least twelve children have died from cold-related causes since the war began in October 2023.
Hospital Incubators Fail Amid Power Cuts
Two-month-old Mohammed Abu Harbid is the latest victim, succumbing to severe hypothermia at al-Rantisi Children's Hospital. Zaher al-Wahidi, director of health information at Gaza’s Ministry of Health, confirmed the tragic death. The crisis is exacerbated by crippling power outages that render critical medical equipment useless.
At al-Awda Hospital in the Nuseirat refugee camp, a newly opened neonatal ward is in a desperate struggle. Medical staff face acute shortages of equipment, medication, and baby formula. Some incubators lack internal batteries, shutting down immediately during frequent power cuts. During recent visits, electricity failed multiple times within an hour, causing incubators to lose heat instantly and putting premature babies at extreme risk.
Dire Conditions in Makeshift Camps
Outside the hospitals, the situation for displaced families is equally catastrophic. In western Gaza City, families huddle in flimsy, makeshift tents that offer little protection from wind, rain, and freezing temperatures. Many described spending sleepless nights as floodwaters soaked their bedding and illness spread among children.
Parents highlighted the lack of basic necessities:
- Thin fabric tents that fail as shelter.
- No access to medicine or proper lighting.
- Inability to care for sick children during cold nights.
Children in the camps have expressed simple wishes for warmer, more durable tents, while families are pleading for urgent humanitarian aid including caravans, winterised shelters, and basic supplies.
A Mounting Humanitarian Catastrophe
As heavy rain, strong winds, and falling temperatures continue to batter the enclave, thousands of displaced people are facing an escalating emergency. Infants, children, and the elderly are identified as the most vulnerable groups in this deepening crisis. The convergence of war damage, infrastructure collapse, and severe weather has created a lethal environment where basic survival is a daily challenge for Gaza's population.
