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In the past nine months of ongoing conflict in Gaza, Nora al-Batran, a 38-year-old mother, has faced immense challenges while being pregnant with twins. Displaced multiple times alongside her husband and children, she sought sanctuary in a tent in Deir al Balah, navigating the perils of bombings and gunfire.
On December 6, al-Batran gave birth to her twin sons, Jumaa and Ali, at Al-Aqsa hospital. However, her joy was short-lived. Just two weeks later, Jumaa fell victim to hypothermia, a tragic consequence of the cold weather and inadequate shelter provided by the makeshift tent where her family resided. Al-Batran struggled to keep her infants warm, employing blankets and hot water bottles—a challenge compounded by the freezing temperatures at night.
“Because of the cold, my children stopped moving, they stopped nursing,” she recounted to CBC freelance videographer Mohamed El Saife. “It’s very difficult…. It’s very cold.”
In recent weeks, the Gaza Strip has faced heavy rains and cold weather, putting many families without proper housing at severe risk, with some attempting to dig holes beneath their tents for additional warmth. Jumaa was one of eight infants reported to have died from similar conditions, according to Dr. Ahmed al Farra from the Nasser Medical Complex.
WATCH | Nora al-Batran explains how she tries to keep her baby, Ali, warm in Gaza:Â
Nora al-Batran lost her 2-week-old baby to hypothermia
Temperatures in Gaza can plummet to between 10°C and 15°C at night during this season, exacerbating the plight of those living in temporary shelters. A report from the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) indicates a critical lack of basic supplies necessary to protect infants, as humanitarian aid has been severely restricted from entering Gaza.
The report states, “Supplies which would protect them have been stuck in the region for months waiting for approval from the Israeli authorities to get into Gaza.” Infants are especially vulnerable to hypothermia due to their rapid loss of body heat, which can be exacerbated by prolonged exposure to cold and wet conditions, as health professionals observe.
Al-Batran recalls waking one morning to find Jumaa unresponsive beside her. Despite wrapping him in multiple blankets and attempting to keep him warm, she tragically found him unbreathing. “I felt guilty that my child died in front of my eyes from the cold, and I couldn’t do anything for him,” she shared.
WATCH | Taysee Obeid gives a tour of his family’s living space, including a hole under his tent:Â
This man dug below his tent to keep his kids warm
The eight infants reported to have died recently were all under a month old, highlighting the severe conditions faced by vulnerable populations. Dr. al Farra remarked on the urgency of the situation, noting that the already fragile nature of newborns puts them at extreme risk of hypothermia, particularly when displaced from more insulated shelters.
Babies More Prone to Hypothermia
Dr. al Farra emphasized the critical risks infants face when deprived of adequate shelter and protection. He treats four to five hypothermia cases daily at Nasser hospital, with some arriving already deceased. Al-Batran, like many other mothers, struggles to ensure her surviving child, one-month-old Ali, remains warm through the frigid nights, often relying on the body heat of her older children.
Amanda Bazerolle, an emergency coordinator with Doctors Without Borders, noted the profound risks for those sheltering in tents compared to last winter, when some displaced people found refuge in standing buildings. “Today, most of the population is sheltering in tents or makeshift tents, so they are much more at risk, much more exposed to the elements,” she remarked.
In an official communication, Israel’s humanitarian coordination unit, COGAT, stated that it is working to facilitate the delivery of essential supplies, including winter gear. They reported that approximately 8,400 tonnes of winter items have entered Gaza in the past three months.
Sheltering from the Cold
In efforts to protect his family from the frigid temperatures, Tayseer Obeid, a father from Khan Younis, has dug an underground refuge for his ten children. This makeshift shelter, which he refers to as a means to provide additional living space, is lined with plastic tarps and is designed to shield his family from the harsh weather.
Obeid took two months to dig the hole, creating a small haven for his children while also employing makeshift structures above ground. He described his intense labor, saying, “This has been a daily routine for me. A daily routine that’s tough and exhausting. The ground is hard and tough, and there were days where we’re just tired.”
Meanwhile, back in Deir al Balah, Nora al-Batran cradles her one-month-old son, Ali, wrapped in blankets after a recent hospital visit for hypothermia symptoms. With limited resources, she continues to place hot water bottles in his blankets to stave off the cold, despite knowing those measures are only temporary.
Having fled the war in northern Gaza, she reflects on the harsh new reality she faces, filled with destruction, cold, and hunger. “How can anyone live like this?” she said in despair. “How do I keep my kids warm?”
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