Chilling Threat: How Winter Cranks Up the Risk for Gaza’s Infants

Children are particularly at risk as temperatures decline, and families continue to lack adequate access to vital supplies such as water, food, and warm housing.

On December 25, three infants, all under one month old, were pronounced dead upon arrival at Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, Gaza. They succumbed due to frigid conditions, as reported by the Ministry of Health.

These infants were residing in tents in Al Mawasi, southern Gaza, where thousands of Palestinians have been forcibly uprooted by Israeli forces and now live in crowded, unsanitary environments.

As winter arrives to worn tents, the situation in the region has turned intolerable. Families are confined to makeshift tents that hardly shield against the winter rain.

The majority of families cannot afford the resources needed to keep warm, including firewood, gas, or even cozy blankets, which may cost up to £160, when available in local markets in Gaza.

“Last winter – even though people were already displaced and the circumstances were severe – there were still some buildings to seek refuge in,” states MSF emergency coordinator Pascale Coissard.

“Currently, after 14 months of conflict and infrastructure devastation, most individuals in Gaza are residing in tents that hardly protect against the cold wind and rain. Just in the last 12 hours, the rain has been relentless.”