Heavy rains over the past week have compounded the dire humanitarian crisis in Gaza, displacing thousands more and putting children at severe risk of hypothermia and illness, according to UN agencies. The intense rainfall has flooded makeshift shelters, damaged belongings, and led to several deaths from building collapses and exposure, highlighting the urgent need for increased aid and infrastructure repair.
Unicef spokesman Jonathan Crickx described the overnight weather as “horrendous,” with up to 15 centimeters of water accumulating in some areas. He expressed extreme concern for children living in damp tents and shelters, where temperatures drop to 7-8°C (45-46°F) at night, increasing the likelihood of hypothermia. Most of the estimated one million displaced people have been forced to move multiple times during the two-year war and lack adequate clothing or dry bedding, making it nearly impossible to stay warm and dry.
Gaza’s Hamas-run health ministry reported that a two-week-old boy, Mohammed Abu al-Khair, died of hypothermia on Monday, and at least 11 other people have perished in building collapses caused by the severe weather. However, the Hamas-run Civil Defence agency put the death toll higher, citing 17 fatalities, including four children, due to collapses and the cold. Video footage showed rescue workers recovering bodies from rubble in the Shati refugee camp, where eyewitnesses described sudden roof collapses.
The UN estimates that almost 55,000 families have been affected by the rains, with their shelters damaged or destroyed. More than 40 emergency shelters were severely flooded following downpours earlier this week, forcing many to relocate again. Many tents, made from tarpaulin or plastic sheeting on fragile frames, are at risk of being blown away by strong winds accompanying the rain, exacerbating the shelter crisis.
Despite a ceasefire that began nine weeks ago, aid deliveries have been insufficient to meet the scale of needs. UN agencies have stepped up distributions of tents, blankets, and clothing, with Unicef providing 250,000 winter clothing kits, 600,000 blankets, and 7,000 tents. However, Crickx warned that thousands still suffer every night, and the International Committee of the Red Cross stressed the need for sustained assistance for food, shelter, and infrastructure repair.
Israel’s Cogat, which controls border crossings, dismissed claims of aid restrictions, stating that 600-800 lorries enter Gaza daily with humanitarian supplies. Since the ceasefire, nearly 310,000 tents and tarpaulins and over 1,800 lorry loads of warm items have been delivered. The UN reports collecting 67,800 tents, 372,500 tarpaulins, and 318,100 bedding items from crossings, but the demand far outpaces supply.
The second phase of the ceasefire includes plans for Gaza’s reconstruction, along with governance issues and disarmament of Hamas. Progress has been slow, with Israel’s prime minister noting that only the return of one dead hostage remains for the first phase. The war, triggered by Hamas’s attack in October 2023, has killed over 70,600 people in Gaza, according to local health authorities.
As winter sets in, the combination of war damage, displacement, and now heavy rains creates a perfect storm of suffering for Gazans. International calls for increased aid and long-term solutions grow louder, but immediate relief is critical to prevent further loss of life in the coming cold months.
