‘Children are now freezing to death’: startling update from Gaza
Tragically just last month, eight newborns died of hypothermia and 74 children died in the harsh conditions of the 2025 winter.
“We enter this new year with the same horror as last year – no progress and no solace. Children are freezing to death right now,” said Louise Wateridge from the United Nations agency for Palestinian refugees. UNRWA, speak UN News.
Meanwhile, hostilities continue with relentless operations by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) causing mass casualties and widespread destruction.
At the same time, rocket attacks by Palestinian armed groups toward Israel continue to take place, endangering civilians in this country.
“The Secretary-General once again strongly condemns the widespread killing – and wounding – of civilians in this conflict.” speak Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric during Thursday’s briefing.
The famine crisis continues
United Nations humanitarian partners have reported that the famine crisis across the Gaza Strip continues to worsen, amid severe supply shortages, severe access restrictions and widespread looting. armed with violence.
In Central and Southern Gaza, the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) revealed that as of Sunday, the United Nations’ humanitarian partners had exhausted all supplies in their warehouses.
This comes at a time when Israeli authorities continue to refuse most requests to bring food assistance from the Erez West border crossing to areas south of Wadi Gaza.
About 120,000 tons of food aid, enough to feed the entire population for more than three months, remains stranded outside the Strip.
UN partners have warned that without additional supplies being received, the distribution of food packages to hungry families will remain extremely limited.
“More than 50 community kitchens that provide more than 200,000 meals a day to people in central and southern Gaza will also be at risk of closing in the coming days,” Mr. Dujarric reported.
Impossible choices
According to the World Food Program (WFP), as of Monday, only five of the 20 bakeries supported by the agency were still operating across the Gaza Strip – all within Gaza province.
To stay open, these bakeries must rely on continuous fuel supplies from partners from southern Gaza.
However, humanitarian partners have now warned that a lack of fuel for generators is crippling Gaza’s health system, putting patients’ lives at risk and making it impossible for aid workers to rescue them. make any choice.
North Gaza Update
Conditions are particularly alarming in besieged North Gaza, where the movement of humanitarian workers is severely restricted.
Ongoing attacks and conflicts in the region have severely disrupted health care services for survivors still there.
Access to Al Awda Hospital in Jabalya – the only hospital in North Gaza that remains partially operational – is extremely limited.
OCHA reports that Israeli authorities continue to deny UN-led efforts, including the most recent attempt on Wednesday to reach the region.
Across the Gaza Strip, Israeli authorities facilitated only 5 out of 15 missions, of which 4 were hindered, 3 were rejected, and 3 others were canceled due to financial challenges. security or logistics.
“In Gaza, parents and children remain missing under the rubble, separated or detained – their fate remains unanswered. Hope is extinguished and the cruel war continues,” Ms. Wateridge said.
The road ahead
Despite ongoing difficulties, the United Nations and partners are working to reach people across the region with vital support.
Across Gaza, between December 22 and January 8, approximately 560,000 people received primary and secondary health care services.
The Secretary-General called on all parties to respect international humanitarian law. “The people must always be protected and respected and their essential needs must be met,” Mr. Dujarric said on his behalf.
He firmly concluded: “There must be an immediate ceasefire and the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages being held in Gaza.”
