Amid brutal cold spells, seven children in the Gaza Strip, residing in makeshift camps, have lost their lives since winter began. The situation is pushing communities to the cliff edge of an ever-worsening humanitarian catastrophe.
Winter adds fuel to Gaza’s crisis
The total number of victims from winter-related causes and collapsing structures has risen to 24. This is according to field data released by the Government Media Office, and seen by the Canary. Notably, 21 of the victims were children, illustrating the tragic cycle faced in Gaza.
It was reported by official sources during a two-day storm, 7,000 tents were blown away, worsening the plight of thousands of displaced people lacking basic necessities, with almost no heating or secure shelter.
Winter’s grip tightens as Israel blocks vital relief
Data shows that the victims of hypothermia and harsh winter conditions are displaced persons living in shanty camps. This tragedy coincides with the ongoing blockade in Gaza and a severe shortage of humanitarian aid. The aid shortage includes blankets, winter clothing, and heating supplies.
UNICEF spokesperson James Elder offered a stark glimpse into the fortress of suffering that these communities are trapped in.
I wish I could take a camera and show you 30, 40-kilometre [per hour] winds ripping through tents on the beach. It’s bitterly cold, it’s bitterly wet […] We’ve now gone to six children who died of hypothermia just this winter.
Israel’s genocidal aggression has displaced more than 1.5 million Palestinians from Gaza. They live in overcrowded tents, with little more than flimsy fabric for shelter. These groups are exposed to unforgiving cold spells. Especially vulnerable are the children, the sick, and the elderly, and with forecasts predicting continued low temperatures, their suffering shows no sign of easing.
Act before it’s ‘too late’, agencies urge
Gaza’s governmental agencies warn that without urgent intervention, the death toll will rise in Gaza. This will happen amid ongoing cold spells, marking one of the most devastating chapters of human suffering in the region. Such suffering is unimaginable to those on the outside.
The Israeli occupation is fully responsible for these deadly outcomes. These are widely seen and condemned as a direct extension of its siege, destruction, and forced displacement in Gaza. As the crisis deepens, official bodies are urging the international community to act immediately before it’s too late.
Featured image via the Canary
By Alaa Shamali
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