Infant Mortality Due to Cold Wave in Gaza Increases to Six
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Synopsis
As reported on February 25, the number of infant fatalities in Gaza due to the harsh cold wave has tragically increased to six, with reports indicating a total of 15 child deaths since the onset of winter, revealing a critical health crisis in the region.
Key Takeaways
- Six infants have died from the cold wave in Gaza.
- The total child mortality due to low temperatures is now 15.
- Healthcare facilities are struggling with shortages and power outages.
- Severe weather conditions have worsened living situations in displacement camps.
- Over 7,700 infants are lacking essential medical care.
Gaza, Feb 25 (NationPress) The toll of infant deaths attributed to the persistent cold wave in the Gaza Strip has now reached six, according to reports from Palestinian medical professionals.
Munir Al-Bursh, the general director of Gaza's health authorities, highlighted in a press briefing that "the count of children who have succumbed to the intense cold stands at six," adding that the cumulative number of child fatalities linked to low temperatures this winter has hit 15.
He cautioned about an escalating health crisis, as the ongoing destruction of medical facilities continues to obstruct healthcare delivery in the region, as noted by the Xinhua news agency.
Al-Bursh emphasized that hospitals, especially pediatric units, are grappling to provide crucial medical assistance amidst severe shortages of resources and frequent power outages.
On Tuesday, Saeed Salah, director of the Friends of the Patient Charitable Hospital in Gaza City, reported that three infants had perished in the last few hours due to the extreme cold and the lack of sufficient heating in their shelters.
Recently, Gaza has faced a brutal cold wave characterized by strong winds, heavy rainfall, and plummeting temperatures. The harsh weather has displaced hundreds of tents and inundated numerous displacement camps, worsening the plight of thousands of families.
The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East has previously expressed concerns regarding the rising threats to newborns in Gaza, indicating that 7,700 infants lack the necessary medical care to survive amidst deteriorating conditions and a critical scarcity of safe shelters.
