At least six newborn died in Gaza because severe cold

GAZA, Feb. 25 (YPA) – At least six newborn babies have died in Gaza Strip because severe cold, according to Dr. Saeed Saleh, a health official at the Patient’s Friends in the Strip.

Saeed Salah, said in a statement that the hospital received the newborn babies were suffering from a severe drop in body temperature as a result of exposure to extreme cold.

He pointed out that “3 of them died hours after their arrival to the hospital, while two were discharged in stable condition, while 3 cases are still in intensive care in critical condition.”

Dr. Saleh added that in the past two weeks, eight newborns were admitted with severe cold-related injuries, six of whom later died.

He affirmed that that the children were living in temporary tents that lacked heating, warning that the number of infant deaths could rise as the cold weather continues, calling on the international community and relevant parties to take urgent action to provide safe shelter and heating for displaced families, especially in light of the deteriorating humanitarian conditions.

For its part, Hamas movement announced in a statement the death of 6 newborn babies in the Gaza Strip due to the severe cold and lack of heating, and the presence of a number of children in hospitals in critical condition.

The statement also called on the mediators to take immediate action to stop the Israeli occupation’s violation of the ceasefire agreement, oblige it to implement the humanitarian protocol, and ensure the entry of shelter, heating and urgent medical aid supplies to the people of the Gaza Strip, to protect the children there, adding that more than 17,000 of whom have died as a result of the brutal war of extermination during the past 15 months.
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