DaysofPal- The death toll from extreme cold in the Gaza Strip has risen to 11 children since the start of the current winter, following the death of a 12-day-old infant, Haitham Abu Qass, the Palestinian Ministry of Health in Gaza announced. The newborn died at Al-Rantisi Hospital after suffering from severe exposure to cold weather.
Tens of thousands of displaced families continue to endure harsh humanitarian conditions while Israeli crossings remain closed and humanitarian aid remains scarce. Severe shortages of food, clean water, medicines, and basic necessities have left many families living in tents without the minimum standards of survival.
Local authorities have warned that the humanitarian crisis is worsening, particularly as relief organizations struggle to meet the growing needs of displaced populations sheltering in makeshift camps.
Palestinian officials and municipalities have repeatedly warned of the dangerous consequences of sewage water pooling in streets and around displacement camps. Over the course of the past two years, hundreds of thousands of Palestinians have suffered from intestinal and skin diseases due to contaminated water leaking into tents and damaged homes.
These environmental conditions coincide with cold winter weather sweeping the Gaza Strip, while families face an acute shortage of basic heating supplies such as blankets and warm clothing. The lack of protection has left infants and young children especially vulnerable to life-threatening conditions.
According to Gaza’s Government Media Office, Israel has destroyed around 90 percent of civilian infrastructure in the Strip, including more than 700,000 linear meters of sewage networks, triggering a severe environmental crisis.
Municipal authorities have also reported ongoing difficulties in operating remaining water and sewage pumps due to a critical shortage of fuel, increasing the risk of further public health deterioration.
Despite the ceasefire, Israeli forces have continued targeting Palestinians. Medical sources reported on Tuesday that two people were killed and nine others injured over the past 24 hours by Israeli gunfire and shelling. Several victims remain trapped under rubble or on roads, while ambulance and rescue crews remain unable to reach them.
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