A newborn baby girl named Sela Mahmoud Al-Fasih froze to death in a tent encampment in Al-Mawasi, southern Gaza, on Wednesday. The incident highlights the dire challenges faced by Palestinian children displaced from their homes due to Israel’s ongoing assault.
According to Dr. Munir Al-Bursh, director general of the Ministry of Health in Gaza, at least three infants have died from low temperatures and lack of access to warm shelter over the past 48 hours. Two other infants, a three-day-old and a one-month-old, also died under similar circumstances.
Al-Mawasi, a coastal region west of Rafah, has been repeatedly attacked by Israel, forcing thousands of displaced Palestinians to move there in search of refuge. The makeshift tents made of cloth and nylon have become the only shelter for many families.
The situation in Gaza is dire, with over 45,000 Palestinians killed and 107,000 people injured, according to the health ministry. Human rights advocates warn that Palestinian children are bearing the brunt of Israel’s bombardment and siege.
More than 17,600 children have been killed since the war started, Dr. Al-Bursh said. The lack of access to medical care is a major concern, with only 20% of neonatal care units operational in the Gaza Strip. Premature babies are dying due to lack of medical supplies, including ventilators.
The Israeli Defense Forces have declined to comment on the deaths of the three infants. Human rights organizations, including UNICEF, have warned that many displaced children in Gaza are struggling to find enough food, water, and warmth.
Rosalia Bollen, a UNICEF communications specialist, said, “For over 14 months, children have been at the sharp edge of this nightmare… In Gaza the reality for over a million children is fear, utter deprivation and unimaginable suffering.” The war on children in Gaza stands as a stark reminder of our collective responsibility.
Source: https://www.yahoo.com/news/three-palestinian-babies-freeze-death-191625930.html