Ongoing rainstorms in Gaza are worsening an already catastrophic humanitarian situation, with fragile shelters being damaged or destroyed and large numbers of displaced people left exposed to cold and harsh weather. According to the United Nations, recent storms have battered makeshift tents, leaving thousands without adequate protection and further compounding the vulnerability of families already displaced by conflict.
Humanitarian partners have delivered emergency shelter and winter supplies to tens of thousands of families in recent weeks, but the scale of need remains overwhelming. At least 1.1 million people are still in urgent need of assistance as weather conditions continue to deteriorate, underscoring the limited impact of temporary measures such as tents and tarpaulins in the face of repeated storms.
UN teams and aid organizations are carrying out assessments and supporting the most vulnerable, while emphasizing that emergency shelter alone is not sufficient. More durable solutions are urgently required, including materials, equipment to clear debris, and sustained funding to enable a shift from immediate relief toward early recovery and longer-term stabilization.
Children are among those most severely affected, with health partners reporting additional infant deaths linked to hypothermia, bringing the total to four very young children. Despite winterization efforts that have included the distribution of clothing, shoes, and the installation of specialized child-friendly tents, the risks to child health and survival remain acute.
Nutrition assessments continue to reveal high levels of malnutrition, with thousands of children identified as suffering from acute and severe acute malnutrition. At the same time, education partners are expanding access to temporary learning spaces for hundreds of thousands of children, though restrictions on the entry of education supplies persist, raising concerns about children’s right to learn and the long-term impact of disrupted education during the ceasefire period.
