Tragic Losses: Babies Succumb to Cold in War-Torn Gaza

Amidst the bitter cold and ongoing conflict in Gaza, families are suffering immense loss as several newborns die from hypothermia. The dire living conditions have exacerbated the already critical humanitarian crisis in the region.

In southern Gaza, as the temperatures plummet with winter, the plight of families living in makeshift shelters has become starkly evident. Just three weeks into life, baby Sila's fragile existence was cut short not by war but by the punishing cold. Her mother, Nariman al-Najmeh, recalls the heart-wrenching moment she realized her baby was unresponsive. "We woke up to find her blue, biting her tongue, with blood coming from her mouth," Nariman recounts through tears.

The al-Najmeh family, displaced repeatedly over the last 14 months due to the ongoing conflict, currently resides in a tent along the southern Gaza beach. Nariman, who voices her struggles to provide for her children, says, "My husband, a fisherman, left our home with nothing, but we did it for our kids." Life in the overcrowded camps is marked by inadequate sanitation and overwhelming cold, further endangering their already fragile lives.

Sila spent her brief life in the al-Mawasi "humanitarian area," a location designated by the Israeli military amid their campaign against Hamas. The conditions there are dire, with many families facing flooding, limited resources, and a lack of assistance. "Egypt and Israel have restricted supplies, compounding our suffering," states Nariman, who once worried about the basics such as clothing and milk during her pregnancy.

Through the winter chill, the family huddles together for warmth, recounting their dreams of a better life that seem out of reach. Nariman reminisces about Sila's birth, which occurred in a British field hospital, and her early health, which quickly deterred as the cold seeped in. Tragically, Sila fell victim to severe hypothermia after merely two weeks of life. Dr. Ahmad al-Farra from Nasser hospital explains that babies are particularly vulnerable to hypothermia, especially in such harsh conditions.

Sila’s loss is not an isolated incident; reports indicate six newborns died from similar causes in just two weeks. UN officials express alarm over the deteriorating situation as many families like the al-Najmeh’s struggle for warmth and nutrition. The chilling reality remains that with limited access to aid, the potential for further tragic losses looms as the winter progresses.

On a somber note, Sila’s father, Mahmoud, carried his daughter’s lifeless body to her makeshift grave, his heart heavy as he confronted the cold wind and imminent loss. “If we don’t die from the war, we’re dying from the cold,” Nariman shares, echoing the anguish of a community beset by misfortune and despair.