27-day-old baby becomes eighth to die of hypothermia in Gaza this winter

"A 27-day-old baby died in Gaza on Saturday from severe cold, bringing the number of children in the region who have died of hypothermia since the start of the current winter season to eight, according to the Palestinian health ministry. Medical sources confirmed to the news agency Anadolu that the newborn, named Aisha Ayesh al-Agha, died as a result of freezing temperatures, and that when she was brought to Nasser hospital in Khan Younis it was already too late to save her."

"Two recent reports by Physicians for Human Rights, in collaboration with the Global Human Rights Clinic at the University of Chicago Law School and Physicians for Human Rights-Israel (PHRI), document how the war has led to high figures for maternal and neonatal mortality. The document reports 2,600 miscarriages, 220 pregnancy-related deaths, 1,460 premature births, over 1,700 underweight newborns and over 2,500 infants requiring neonatal intensive care between January and June 2025."

"Mothers in Gaza are forced into unthinkable choices, routinely compromising their own health and survival to meet their children's most basic needs. With maternal and newborn care dismantled by fuel shortages, blocked medical supplies, mass displacement and relentless bombardment, relocating to overcrowded tent encampments has become the only remaining option. In the first months of 2025 there were 17,000 recorded births, a 41% drop from the same period in 2022."

A 27-day-old newborn died in Gaza from severe cold, the eighth hypothermia child death this winter. The infant, Aisha Ayesh al-Agha, arrived at Nasser hospital in Khan Younis too late to be saved. Reports from Physicians for Human Rights, the University of Chicago Global Human Rights Clinic, and PHRI record 2,600 miscarriages, 220 pregnancy-related deaths, 1,460 premature births, over 1,700 underweight newborns and more than 2,500 infants needing neonatal intensive care between January and June 2025. Maternal and newborn services have collapsed due to fuel shortages, blocked supplies, mass displacement and bombardment, forcing relocation to overcrowded tent encampments. Recorded births fell 41% to 17,000 in early 2025. Storms and strong winter winds have caused deaths and flooding in displacement camps while hostilities continue.

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