Geneva, Feb. 1 (SANA) The head of the World Health Organization said on Saturday the deaths of at least 10 children from hypothermia in the Gaza Strip since the start of winter reflect a serious deterioration in the humanitarian situation.
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the deaths highlight the growing risks faced by children and families sheltering in temporary accommodation that lacks adequate insulation as temperatures fall.
In a post on the X platform, Ghebreyesus added that displaced families are enduring harsh conditions, increasing their exposure to illness and other health risks.
He warned that severe winter weather, combined with poor living conditions, is contributing to higher rates of disease outbreaks and could lead to a rise in cases requiring urgent medical care.
Ghebreyesus said the WHO continues to supply health facilities in Gaza with essential medicines, reiterating calls for sustained and unhindered access for humanitarian and medical aid. He stressed that the timely delivery of critical supplies, particularly heating and shelter materials, is essential to saving lives.
The Gaza Strip is facing a severe humanitarian crisis amid ongoing Israeli attacks and a blockade that has restricted the flow of aid, according to U.N. agencies and humanitarian organizations.
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