Key points
- Makeshift shelters collapse across Gaza
- Aid shortages persist despite ceasefire
- Children among most vulnerable victims
GAZA: Harsh winter weather has compounded Gaza’s humanitarian crisis, with strong winds and freezing temperatures killing at least five people and leaving hundreds of displaced families without shelter, according to hospital officials and the United Nations.
Local health authorities said four people — including two women, a girl and a man — were killed when walls collapsed onto makeshift tents sheltering displaced Palestinians in Gaza City. Separately, Gaza’s Health Ministry reported that a one-year-old boy died of hypothermia overnight in the central town of Deir Al-Balah, underscoring the dangers posed by exposure during winter, reports AP News.
The deaths come despite a ceasefire that has been in place since October 10, following more than two years of intense Israeli bombardment. Aid agencies say that while fighting has eased, living conditions for much of Gaza’s population remain dire due to widespread destruction and shortages of humanitarian supplies.
Most of Gaza’s more than two million residents are living in flimsy tents or makeshift shelters after large parts of the enclave were reduced to rubble during the war. The UN humanitarian office said hundreds of tents and temporary structures were blown away or severely damaged by the latest storms.
Struggling to survive
At Shifa Hospital, Gaza City’s largest medical facility, officials said three members of the same family — a 72-year-old man, his 15-year-old granddaughter and his daughter-in-law — were killed when a wall collapsed onto their tent near the coast. Relatives described the incident as another blow for families already struggling to survive.
“The bombing may have stopped, but death is still everywhere,” said Bassel Hamouda, a relative of the victims.
The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said aid groups are distributing tents, tarpaulins, blankets, clothing and hygiene items, but warned that insufficient shelter materials are entering Gaza to meet growing needs. Rescue workers have urged residents to avoid taking shelter in damaged buildings, which risk collapse during storms.
UNICEF said cold conditions have claimed at least seven lives since winter began, including infants. The agency also reported that more than 100 children have been killed by Israeli military operations since the ceasefire, highlighting ongoing insecurity.
As winter deepens, aid agencies warn that without improved access to shelter and supplies, Gaza’s vulnerable population faces mounting risks from both the elements and continued instability.
