A one-month-old infant has died from extreme cold in the southern Gaza Strip, highlighting the worsening humanitarian crisis facing displaced Palestinians amid harsh winter conditions.

Medical sources said on Thursday that the infant, identified as Saeed Abdeen, died in the Khan Younis area after being exposed to severe cold during a storm affecting the Gaza Strip. The child’s death comes as thousands of families continue to live in makeshift shelters that offer little protection from freezing temperatures and heavy rain.

According to health officials, the total number of deaths admitted to hospitals as a result of the recent storm and extreme cold has risen to 13. Many of the victims are reported to be children, the elderly, and displaced people living in tents or damaged buildings.

Aid workers say the deaths underscore the dire conditions in the besieged enclave, where residents are facing acute shortages of shelter, medical supplies, and heating fuel. Ongoing bombardment and restrictions have left large areas destroyed, forcing families to rely on flimsy tents that are ill-equipped to withstand winter weather.

Hospitals and medical facilities, already overwhelmed and under-resourced, are struggling to respond as fuel shortages limit heating, electricity, and essential services. Doctors warn that without urgent humanitarian assistance, more lives—particularly among infants and vulnerable groups—are at risk as cold and rainy conditions persist.

The situation in Gaza continues to deteriorate as winter storms compound the impact of months of destruction, displacement, and restricted access to basic necessities, deepening what humanitarian organizations describe as a catastrophic crisis. (ILKHA)