Gaza’s humanitarian situation is rapidly deteriorating as a recent surge in severe winter weather claims lives and exposes the vulnerability of the territory’s displaced population. following months of conflict that have left an estimated 80% of buildings damaged or destroyed, the vast majority of Gaza’s two million residents are now without adequate shelter. Discrepancies are emerging over the amount of aid reaching civilians, even as organizations warn that current provisions are insufficient to meet the growing needs during the harsh winter months.
Gaza is facing a deepening humanitarian crisis as recent severe weather has exacerbated already dire living conditions for displaced Palestinians, resulting in multiple deaths and raising concerns about the adequacy of aid reaching the territory. The situation highlights the vulnerability of those sheltering in makeshift camps and damaged buildings amid ongoing reconstruction challenges.
On Tuesday, the Gaza Ministry of Health, which is affiliated with the Hamas-led government, reported the death of a two-week-old infant from hypothermia caused by the harsh weather. The baby had been hospitalized days prior and transferred to intensive care, but succumbed to the cold on Monday.
Also on Tuesday, a man died in Gaza City after a house, already weakened by previous Israeli strikes, collapsed due to the heavy rainfall, according to officials at Shifa Hospital. The al-Hosari family, who resided in the building, stated that 30 people had been living there, but only nine were present at the time of the collapse. They identified the deceased as a worker who had been attempting to repair the walls, and reported that five others were injured.
The Ministry of Health announced that ten additional deaths last week were also attributed to building collapses caused by the combination of rain and strong winds. Rescue workers have warned residents against gathering in damaged structures due to the risk of further collapses.
However, finding safe shelter is proving increasingly difficult as much of Gaza has been reduced to rubble. In July, the United Nations Satellite Centre estimated that nearly 80% of buildings in Gaza had been destroyed or damaged.
“When we hear about a storm, our whole life turns upside down. We wonder where to go, where to put our mattresses and blankets, and how to protect our children from the cold and the heat,” said Mohammed Gharableh, a displaced father from Rafah in southern Gaza.
“With every storm like this, water leaks into our tents, and our mattresses and blankets get soaked,” he added.
Areas near Gaza in Israel also experienced unusually heavy rainfall last week, receiving between 60 and 160 millimeters of precipitation, more than double the average for this time of year, according to Israeli meteorological services.
Humanitarian organizations say that despite a two-month ceasefire, the delivery of shelter materials to Gaza remains insufficient to adequately prepare Palestinians for the winter months. Recent figures released by the Israeli military suggest that the ceasefire commitment to allow 600 aid trucks into Gaza daily has not been consistently met.
The vast majority of Gaza’s two million residents are displaced, with most living in sprawling tent camps along the coast or among the ruins of damaged buildings. These structures lack adequate infrastructure to prevent flooding, and residents are relying on makeshift latrines dug near tents.
The Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT), the Israeli military body responsible for coordinating aid to Gaza, stated that nearly 270,000 tents and tarpaulins, along with winter supplies, shelter kits, and hygiene products, have entered Gaza in recent months.
However, some humanitarian organizations are disputing these figures, arguing that more supplies, particularly winter items, are urgently needed. Shelter Cluster, an international aid provider coalition led by the Norwegian Refugee Council, reported last week that it has only recorded the entry of 68,000 tents into Gaza through the UN, NGOs, and various countries. The organization also noted that many of these tents are not properly insulated for the winter.
