Winter Rains Intensify Humanitarian Crisis in Gaza Displacement Camps

Gaza Displacement Camps Submerged by Heavy Winter Rains

The Gaza Strip is currently experiencing a severe humanitarian crisis, intensified by heavy winter rains that have caused widespread flooding across displacement camps. Over the weekend, freezing rain lashed the territory, turning makeshift encampments into scenes of ankle-deep puddles and muddy water, further deteriorating the already precarious living conditions for thousands of Palestinians displaced by a two-year conflict.

Reports indicate that a powerful winter storm, the third polar low-pressure system of the season, began around December 10, 2025, leading to significant inundation. Areas particularly affected include the al-Mawasi zone of Khan Younis, the Bassa and Baraka areas in Deir al-Balah, the Central Market area in Nuseirat, and the al-Yarmouk and Port districts in Gaza City.

Dire Conditions and Rising Casualties Among Displaced

The displaced population, many of whom have been living in flimsy, waterlogged tents and makeshift shelters for months, are struggling to stay dry. Blankets and mattresses are soaked, and fragile shelters are being propped up with old pieces of wood. Children, often in inadequate clothing, are seen wading through freezing puddles that have transformed dirt roads into rivers.

The harsh weather has tragically led to casualties. At least 12 people, including a 2-week-old infant, have died since December 13 from hypothermia or weather-related collapses of war-damaged homes, according to Gaza's Health Ministry. The Palestinian Civil Defense in Gaza reported 17 deaths, including four children, due to building collapses and flooding. The Director General of Gaza's Ministry of Health, Munir al-Borsh, stated that 13 Palestinian children, mostly infants, died due to the cold during recent storms. Emergency workers have warned against staying in damaged buildings, as many are at risk of collapse, yet few alternatives exist given that almost 80% of buildings in Gaza are estimated to be destroyed or damaged.

Inadequate Aid and Obstacles to Delivery

Humanitarian organizations report that aid supplies are not reaching Gaza at the scale required to address the escalating crisis. Philippe Lazzarini, Commissioner-General of the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA), emphasized that UNRWA 'could multiply these efforts tomorrow if aid flowed in.' Significant restrictions and impediments continue to hamper humanitarian operations, with some 9,000 metric tons of aid supplies rejected by Israeli authorities between October 10 and December 16, often categorized as 'dual-use' items, such as tents with aluminum frames.

While the Shelter Cluster reports that approximately 72,000 tents and 403,000 tarps have entered Gaza since the ceasefire, aid groups stress that the need far outstrips the current supply. The Palestinian government estimates that Gaza requires about 200,000 prefabricated housing units to meet the urgent shelter needs of the displaced population. Efforts to provide winterization aid include the distribution of:

• Over 250,000 winter clothing kits for children, though an estimated 630,000 adolescents still require assistance.
• Over 8,800 blankets and more than 300 tents, alongside additional tarpaulins and mattresses.
• Baby diapers and emergency shelter items.

The Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) Cluster also faces critical shortages of essential equipment like jetting and vacuum trucks, sewage pipes, and cement, which are vital for mitigating flooding and repairing damaged wastewater systems.

Health Risks and Urgent Calls for Intervention

The combination of cold weather, overcrowding, and poor sanitation significantly increases health risks, including hypothermia, respiratory infections, and other communicable diseases. Fuel shortages further exacerbate the crisis by limiting hospital operations and the availability of heating. Medical officials have warned of a dangerous rise in hypothermia cases among children sheltering in tents.

Humanitarian organizations and officials are appealing for urgent international intervention, calling for the lifting of all restrictions on aid entry and increased provision of temporary housing units to prevent a further catastrophic deterioration of the situation.