Babies in the Gaza Strip are freezing to death due to cold weather and the dire lack of shelter, warned Philippe Lazzarini, Commissioner-General of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA).

In a statement posted on X, Lazzarini highlighted the dire humanitarian conditions in Gaza, where essential winter supplies, including blankets and mattresses, have been delayed for months due to bureaucratic hurdles.

“Blankets, mattresses, and other winter supplies have been stuck in the region for months waiting for approval to get into Gaza,” Lazzarini said.

He urged for the immediate delivery of these critical supplies to alleviate the suffering of Gaza’s population and reiterated the urgent need for a ceasefire to address the escalating humanitarian crisis.

The UNRWA chief’s call comes as Gaza faces a catastrophic winter, with displaced families living in makeshift shelters amid severe shortages of fuel, food, and basic necessities. International humanitarian organizations have echoed his appeal, emphasizing the urgent need for unrestricted access to deliver aid to the besieged territory.

Lazzarini’s statement underscores the devastating impact of the ongoing crisis on the most vulnerable, as Gaza’s children and infants bear the brunt of extreme conditions and the lack of essential resources. (ILKHA)