Sila was just 20 days old when her life ended, a heartbreaking casualty of Gaza’s unrelenting war and freezing temperatures. Born in a tent within the overcrowded al-Mawasi "humanitarian area," she and her family endured harsh conditions with leaking shelters and limited resources. Despite being healthy at birth, the bitter cold became too much for her fragile body to bear.

Her parents, Nariman and Mahmoud, share the anguish of watching their new born succumb to hypothermia. They fled with their two other young children, seeking safety amidst relentless bombardment, only to find themselves battling the elements. “The cold is bitter and harsh. All night, we huddle together for warmth,” says Mahmoud, describing their grim reality.

However, it did not begin on October 7th. While Israel’s actions since that date in 2023 have devastated lives, homes, and critical infrastructure, forcing over two million people to struggle for survival, the occupation and violence against Palestinians have been ongoing since 1948 when over 750,000 Palestinians were displaced, thousands killed, and 78% of Historic Palestine was seized.  

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The violence is not new; it's part of a painful history that has left hundreds of thousands dead across decades.

Gaza’s Second Winter Under Attack

Sila is one of six infants who have died of hypothermia in Gaza within two weeks, according to health officials. Night time temperatures have dropped to 7°C (45°F), and with humanitarian aid severely restricted, families lack essentials like infant formula and warm clothing. The overcrowded shelters offer little protection against the cold and floods from the Mediterranean.

This tragedy is not just about the cold but about a humanitarian crisis that leaves families like Sila’s struggling for survival. With mothers malnourished and unable to breastfeed adequately, and medics seeing a rise in premature births, the youngest and most vulnerable pay the heaviest price. Sila’s story is a haunting reminder of the human cost of war.

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And the bodies continue to drop

In Gaza alone, at least 44,282  people, including nearly 17,492 children while more than  104,638  have been injured and over 11,000 are missing. Within the occupied West Bank, at least 796 people have been killed, including more than 168 children, with over 6,250 injured. These numbers continue to rise every day as airstrikes and bombings persist.

In the midst of all these,Gaza has reported its first polio case in 25 years. A 10-month-old baby in war-shattered Gaza has been paralysed by the type 2 polio virus, marking the first such case in the territory in 25 years.

The reemergence of polio is a direct consequence of Gaza's destroyed infrastructure, crippled health system, aid restrictions, and massive displacement, all of which have fueled the virus's resurgence. Without swift humanitarian intervention and medical assistance, an entire generation of children is at risk of paralysis from this preventable disease.

"We have nothing. No food, no water, no homes... If you get wounded or sick and need to go to the hospital, you can’t—anything could fall from the sky at any moment, and the hospitals are already full."

The Need Is Immense

While we have worked tirelessly to help families find hope amidst the chaos, the challenges remain immense. Over 94% of the water in Gaza is unsafe to drink, and more than 1 million Palestinians are experiencing catastrophic hunger with no access to essential food supplies. Children are without shelter or food, the wounded have no access to medical aid, and illegal detentions and diseases are on the rise as Gaza remains cut off from the rest of the world.  

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