A 12-day-old infant has died due to extreme cold conditions in the Gaza Strip, highlighting the worsening humanitarian crisis in the region.
Operative Information Center-OMM reports that the Ministry of Health in Gaza released a statement regarding the tragic incident.
“A 12-day-old baby passed away at the Rantisi Hospital due to exposure to extreme cold,” the statement noted. According to official data, the number of children who have lost their lives in Gaza since the beginning of the winter season because they could not be protected from the freezing weather has now reached 11.
Despite a ceasefire agreement that came into effect on October 10, hundreds of thousands of people continue to struggle for survival in primitive tents across the Gaza Strip. Heavy rains and storms affecting the region have rendered many temporary shelters unusable, leaving vulnerable populations, particularly young children, unable to withstand the plummeting temperatures. The humanitarian situation remains dire as the entry of essential aid, including food, medicine, medical supplies, fuel, and adequate shelter materials, remains severely restricted.
The ongoing crisis in Gaza has drawn significant international concern as infrastructure remains devastated by months of conflict. International humanitarian organizations have repeatedly warned that without a steady and sufficient flow of aid, the civilian population remains at high risk of disease and exposure-related fatalities. The lack of fuel for heating and the destruction of permanent housing have forced a massive portion of the population into overcrowded and ill-equipped displacement camps, where weather conditions pose a constant threat to life.
