Health officials in Gaza reported that a 20-day-old baby, Jumaa Al Batran, passed away on Sunday due to “severe cold” as the region battles harsh winter conditions amid ongoing war and devastation.
According to Gaza’s health ministry, Jumaa’s twin brother remains in intensive care at a local hospital. The ministry also shared that five children have died recently from extreme cold. Marwan Al Hamas, who oversees field hospitals in Gaza, confirmed these tragic cases.
Jumaa’s father, Yahya Al Batran, shared the heartbreaking situation, saying, “There’s no electricity, the water is freezing, and we don’t have gas, heating, or food. My children are dying before my eyes. Jumaa has passed, and I fear his brother Ali might not survive.”
The family currently lives in a makeshift tent in Deir Al Balah, central Gaza. Yahya described their home as torn and inadequate against the cold. Hundreds of thousands of displaced people are enduring similar conditions in overcrowded, poorly equipped tents across areas like Deir Al Balah, Khan Younis, and Rafah.
Since the war between Israel and Hamas began in October 2023, Gaza’s 2.4 million residents have faced severe shortages of essentials like electricity, clean water, food, and medical supplies. Most residents have been displaced multiple times, struggling to survive in dire conditions after the conflict’s devastating impact on the region.
