Gaza’s Devastating Winter: 1.6 Million Displaced Face Frozen Conditions, Health System on Brink of Collapse
The situation in Gaza has taken a drastic turn as the besieged region faces freezing temperatures, flooding, and a dire humanitarian crisis. The United Nations has warned of a looming famine, and the World Health Organization has described hospitals in Gaza as “battlefields.” The situation has led to the deaths of seven Palestinian babies, with two more just this week, and thousands more struggling to survive the harsh conditions.
According to the Palestinian Meteorological Department, temperatures in Gaza are expected to remain cold to extremely cold over the coming days, with more rainfall and thunderstorms forecasted for New Year’s Eve. The conditions have left 1.6 million Gazans, including 500,000 in flood-prone areas, scrambling for shelter and basic necessities.
Humanitarian aid has failed to meet even the most basic needs, and thousands of families are forced to live in makeshift shelters with little protection from the cold. The UNRWA, the U.N.’s Palestinian relief agency, has reported that aid is far from enough, with famine looming and a ceasefire urgently needed to deliver food.
One-month-old Jumaa al-Batran died of hypothermia in a tent in Deir al-Balah, just days after her twin brother, Ali, also succumbed to the freezing temperatures. Their father found Jumaa’s lifeless body “frozen like ice.” The twins are the sixth and seventh Palestinian babies to die from freezing temperatures in Gaza within a week.
The plight of the people in Gaza has left the international community calling for emergency relief. Hamas has urged the international community to send “relief supplies and tents to protect hundreds of thousands of displaced civilians from the cold and catastrophic effects.” The organization has also called on the United Nations to take urgent action to provide relief to the people of Gaza, who have suffered “crimes of genocide and ethnic cleansing” from the Israeli occupation.
Meanwhile, the Palestinian Authority has announced that five more detainees from Gaza have been killed in Israeli prisons. The deaths are a stark reminder of the brutal treatment of Palestinian prisoners and the ongoing occupation of Gaza.
The health system in Gaza is on the brink of collapse, with conditions worsening over the winter as Israeli forces intensify attacks on hospitals. The Al Wafa hospital in Gaza city was hit by an Israeli airstrike, killing seven people. The military claimed the attack targeted Hamas militants, but the World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has described hospitals in Gaza as “battlefields.”
FAQs
Q: How many Palestinian babies have died from freezing temperatures in Gaza?
A: Seven Palestinian babies have died from freezing temperatures in Gaza within the past week.
Q: What are the conditions like for displaced Gazans?
A: Displaced Gazans, including 500,000 in flood-prone areas, are facing harsh conditions, including cold temperatures, flooding, and a lack of basic necessities.
Q: What is the UNRWA’s assessment of the humanitarian situation in Gaza?
A: The UNRWA has warned of a looming famine and has reported that aid is far from enough to meet the needs of Gazans.
Q: What is the situation with healthcare in Gaza?
A: Gaza’s healthcare system is on the brink of collapse, with hospitals being targeted by Israeli forces and a shortage of medical supplies and personnel.
Q: What has the international community said about the situation in Gaza?
A: The international community has called for emergency relief and has urged the United Nations to take action to provide aid to the people of Gaza.
Conclusion
The situation in Gaza has spiralled out of control, with thousands of displaced Gazans struggling to survive the harsh conditions. The international community has been left to act, but the plight of the people of Gaza remains a dire concern. The deaths of seven Palestinian babies and the impending famine and collapse of the healthcare system are a stark reminder of the desperate need for action. The world must come together to provide aid and ensure that the basic human rights of the people of Gaza are respected.
