It was a cold, bitter night in southern Gaza when Nariman al-Najmeh woke up to every parent’s worst nightmare – her newborn baby Sila lay motionless, her tiny body succumbing to the freezing temperatures. In a tent on the beach, surrounded by her husband Mahmoud Fasih and their two young children, Rayan and Nihad, Nariman’s world crumbled as she realized the harsh reality of their situation.
“I woke up in the morning and told my husband that the baby hadn’t stirred for a while. He uncovered her face and found her blue…with blood coming out of her mouth,”
recounts Nariman, painting a poignant picture of loss amidst dire circumstances. The family had been displaced multiple times during the ongoing war in Gaza, with each relocation stripping them of stability and basic necessities.
Amidst the chaos and devastation that have engulfed Gaza, Sila’s short life symbolized both fragility and resilience. Born in a makeshift campsite in the al-Mawasi area – an overcrowded space lacking proper infrastructure or protection from the elements – she became one of six infants who tragically lost their lives to hypothermia within a span of two weeks. Night-time temperatures plummeted to 7C (45F), adding another layer of hardship to families already struggling to survive.
Expert pediatrician Dr. Ahmad al-Farra shed light on the challenges faced by newborns in such conditions, emphasizing how infants’ underdeveloped ability to regulate body temperature makes them particularly vulnerable. Premature births have increased during this period due to heightened stress levels among pregnant women caused by conflict-induced trauma and malnutrition.
“Her health was good…Suddenly, she started to be affected by the cold,”
recalls Nariman with sorrow as she reflects on Sila’s declining health despite being born without complications. The relentless winter chill seeped into their leaking tent, creating an unbearable environment for a delicate newborn like Sila.
As humanitarian aid deliveries are restricted by Israeli authorities, essential supplies like infant formula become scarce. Dr. Farra highlights how malnourished mothers struggle to provide adequate nutrition for their babies, exacerbating an already dire situation where even basic needs are luxuries.
The story of Yehia al-Batran further underscores the desperation gripping Gaza’s families. Holding his freezing 20-day-old son Jumaa outside al-Aqsa hospital, Yehia’s anguish reverberates through his words:
“Touch him with your hand…he’s frozen.”
The lack of blankets and warmth encapsulates the stark reality faced by many parents whose children are falling victim to preventable deaths brought about by unforgiving conditions.
In moments of profound grief and helplessness, Sila’s father Mahmoud tenderly laid her body to rest in Khan Younis’ sandy graveyard under the watchful hum of Israeli drones above—a somber reminder that even burial rituals are overshadowed by conflict.
With each passing day bringing colder temperatures and deeper despair for families like Nariman’s – plagued not just by war but also by nature’s cruelty – Unicef regional director Edouard Beigbeder echoes a somber truth: more lives hang precariously on the line as Gaza’s youngest inhabitants battle against insurmountable odds.
Nariman captures it best as she mourns not just Sila but also laments over their collective suffering:
“If we don’t die from war; we’re dying from cold.”
In these trying times where survival is far from guaranteed—where death lurks not just through bombs but also through biting frost—the resilience displayed amidst unimaginable adversity stands as a testament to human endurance against all odds.
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