IFRC head urges for immediate aid access into Gaza, fearing without it 'children will freeze to death'

By Beyza Binnur Donmez

GENEVA (AA) - The head of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) on Thursday urged for an immediate humanitarian access into Gaza amid reports of hypothermia-related deaths of newborns and infants.

"Recent UN reports of babies dying from hypothermia in Gaza underscore the critical severity of the humanitarian crisis there," Jagan Chapagain said on X. "I urgently reiterate my call to grant safe and unhindered access to humanitarians to let them provide life-saving assistance."

"Without safe access - children will freeze to death. Without safe access - families will starve. Without safe access - humanitarian workers can't save lives," Chapagain underlined.

He said that his urgent plea to all the parties is to put an end to this human suffering now.

UNICEF said last Friday, citing information of the Palestinian Ministry of Health, four newborns and infants died in recent days from hypothermia.

Despite a UN Security Council resolution calling for an immediate cease-fire, the Israeli army has continued a genocidal war on Gaza that has killed nearly 45,600 victims, mostly women and children, since a Hamas attack on Oct. 7, 2023.

In November, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Netanyahu and his former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.

Israel also faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice for its war on the enclave.