At least six newborn babies have died in Gaza due to severe cold, according to Dr Saeed Saleh, a health official at the Patient’s Friends Benevolent Society Hospital (PFBS) in the enclave, in a recorded video yesterday.
Saleh said that in the past two weeks, eight newborns were admitted with severe cold-related injuries, six of whom later died.
The hospital highlighted the dire living conditions facing Palestinians, who are currently residing in tents and bombed-out homes, with no protection from the freezing temperatures currently sweeping across the Middle East.
Health officials at the hospital called on mediators in the conflict between Israel and Hamas to urgently provide mobile homes as temporary shelters for more than 280,000 families who are homeless after Israeli air strikes.
They also called for fuel deliveries to ensure warmth and safeguard young children from the harsh weather conditions.
Israel and Hamas agreed on a ceasefire in Gaza on January 19 to end nearly 16 months of conflict and allow the release of Israeli hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners.
Hamas blamed the deaths of the newborns on Israel’s ‘criminal policies’, accusing Israel of obstructing humanitarian aid.
Israel did not immediately comment on the reports of the newborn deaths. It has consistently denied restricting aid.
International aid officials have confirmed that aid is getting into Gaza despite logistical problems, but they warn more was needed.
The World Health Organisation is deeply concerned about violence in the Israeli-occupied West Bank and the impact of ‘starkly rising’ attacks on healthcare, its representative in the Palestinian territories said yesterday.
Israel sent tanks into the West Bank for the first time in more than 20 years on Sunday and ordered the military to prepare for an ‘extended stay’ to fight Palestinians in the area’s refugee camps.
“We are deeply concerned about the situation in the West bank and the impact on health,” Dr Rik Peeperkorn, WHO representative in the West Bank and Gaza, said via video link from the Gaza Strip.
“We see the current flashpoints of violence, attacks on healthcare ... starkly rising in the West Bank.”
Israel did not immediately comment on Peeperkorn’s remarks about attacks affecting healthcare.
The WHO says there have been 44 attacks this year that affected the provision of healthcare in the West Bank, with four healthcare facilities impacted.
The WHO also reported ‘severe movement restrictions’ across the West Bank, including obstacles affecting the movement of ambulances and access for healthcare workers.
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