In the Al-Mawasi region of southern Gaza, a newborn baby, Sela Mahmoud Al-Fasih, tragically died from extreme cold in a tent encampment. This heartbreaking incident highlights the severe challenges faced by Palestinian children displaced from their homes amid Israel’s ongoing military assault on Gaza. Dr. Munir Al-Bursh, the director general of the Ministry of Health in Gaza, confirmed the baby’s death due to freezing temperatures, drawing attention to the dire living conditions for families seeking refuge in temporary shelters.
Harsh Conditions in Al-Mawasi
Al-Mawasi, a coastal area west of Rafah, has become a refuge for thousands of displaced Palestinians, yet it remains vulnerable to continuous Israeli airstrikes. Families who fled their homes in search of safety are living in makeshift tents made of cloth and nylon, which offer little protection against the cold. Sela’s death is not an isolated case. Within the last 48 hours, at least two other infants, aged three days and one month, also died from the cold and lack of proper shelter. Dr. Ahmed Al-Farra, head of pediatrics at Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, stated that the freezing temperatures, coupled with inadequate shelter, are claiming the lives of vulnerable children.
A Mother’s Heartbreaking Story
Sela’s mother, Nariman Al-Fasih, shared her emotional account of her daughter’s death, describing how she tried to keep her warm by holding her close. “I was warming her and holding her, but we didn’t have extra clothes to warm this girl,” she said. The baby’s body was later seen wrapped in a white shroud, with her father holding her in his arms in a heart-wrenching display of grief. Sela’s face had turned blue from the cold, a chilling reminder of the dangers faced by children living in these hazardous conditions.
Gaza’s Child Mortality Crisis
The tragic loss of these infants underscores the growing child mortality crisis in Gaza. Over 17,600 children have died since the conflict began, according to health officials, with one child dying every hour. Thousands more have been separated from their families or left unaccompanied. Children also face an ongoing shortage of food, water, and medical care as the siege on Gaza continues. Doctors report that neonatal care units are only 20% operational, further exacerbating the suffering of premature and ill infants.
International Outcry
UNICEF has condemned the ongoing violence, with communications specialist Rosalia Bollen calling the situation a “war on children.” She emphasized that a generation of children is enduring extreme deprivation, violence, and a lack of access to essential services, which is damaging their futures. The international community has called for urgent intervention to protect these children and provide humanitarian aid, but as the conflict intensifies, the situation remains dire.
