Unicef is alarmed by the dramatic situation faced by families in the Palestinian enclave.
Published on 04/01/2025 08:15
Reading time: 2min
In Gaza, the humanitarian situation has reached a new level. Since mid-December, seven newborns have died of cold, according to UNICEF records. The UN migration agency is alarmed by these deaths on Friday January 3. These babies were between 4 days and 4 months old. They were victims of the cold and extremely precarious living conditions in the Palestinian enclave, which remains inaccessible to international journalists.
In a Unicef video, sitting under a tent, Nariman explains how her baby froze to death during the night. Silla was 14 days old, she was taken lifeless to the pediatric ward of Al Nasser Hospital in Khan Younes, headed by Ahmed Al Fara. “Silla was a very beautiful baby, she was born without medical intervention, she had no illness. So her father was very shocked”explains the doctor.
In less than 15 days, seven babies died, like Silla, from the cold in Gaza. Three of them were taken to the services of Doctor Al Fara: “Children are vulnerable to hypothermia, they can easily lose heat. And secondly, mothers are hungry and don't eat properly. There is no protein, no vitamins for babies. Finally, newborns cannot express themselves, they die without warning.” In December, temperatures dropped significantly in the enclave with a freezing wind. The tents were not enough to block the attack.
Last month, only 70 humanitarian trucks were able to enter the enclave, compared to 500 before the war. And much more is needed to avoid these tragedies. “To combat this, explains Jonathan Crickx, the spokesperson for Unicef, we know very, very well that humanitarian aid should be authorized to enter on a much, much larger scale than what we have been able to observe in recent weeks and months. And without it, innocent babies will continue to die.” Despite everything, Unicef is trying to distribute warm clothes for children.
