By Trendsetter Tribune 
A 27-day-old baby has died in Gaza due to extreme cold, bringing the winter hypothermia death toll among children to eight, highlighting worsening humanitarian conditions.
A 27-day-old baby, Aisha Ayesh al-Agha, died in Gaza on Saturday due to severe cold, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry. Medical sources confirmed that she was brought to Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis already in critical condition, too late for treatment to save her life.
Her death raises the number of children who have died of hypothermia this winter to eight. No further details were released regarding her health prior to the incident.
Impact of War on Maternal and Neonatal Health
Recent studies by Physicians for Human Rights and the Global Human Rights Clinic at the University of Chicago Law School, in collaboration with PHRI, document alarming figures for maternal and newborn mortality amid ongoing conflict:
- 2,600 miscarriages
- 220 pregnancy-related deaths
- 1,460 premature births
- Over 1,700 underweight newborns
- More than 2,500 infants requiring neonatal intensive care
The reports highlight the consequences of fuel shortages, blocked medical supplies, mass displacement, and bombardment, which force mothers to make unthinkable choices to meet basic needs.
Fewer Births, Increasing Hardship
The first months of 2025 saw 17,000 births, a 41% drop from the same period in 2022. The reduction in births and rising infant mortality reflect the broader collapse of maternal care in the region.
A UNICEF spokesperson, James Elder, said that more than 100 children have been killed since the ceasefire in October, with ongoing violence and winter storms worsening conditions for displaced families.
Winter Storms Compound the Crisis
Recent winter storms have caused floods and structural collapses in overcrowded displacement camps. Strong winds led to walls collapsing onto tents, killing at least four people, including a one-year-old baby who died of hypothermia.
Since the ceasefire, the Gaza Health Ministry reports 464 Palestinians killed and nearly 1,280 injured in Israeli attacks.
Conclusion: A Humanitarian Emergency
The death of Aisha Ayesh al-Agha underscores the precarious living conditions in Gaza, where conflict, displacement, and severe winter conditions continue to threaten children’s survival. Aid organizations are calling for immediate humanitarian support to prevent further loss of life among the most vulnerable.