Winter storms have exacerbated Gaza’s humanitarian crisis, flooding displacement tents, destroying belongings, and leaving tens of thousands of families without adequate shelter, warmth, or medical care.
Winter storms are deepening the humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip, where tens of thousands of displaced Palestinians are struggling to survive in makeshift tents after their homes were destroyed during more than two years of war.
In interviews with Russia’s RIA Novosti, cited by Al Mayadeen, displaced residents described how heavy rain and strong winds have sharply worsened already dire living conditions, leaving families exposed to cold, flooding, and disease.
One displaced woman, identified as Umm Salim, said she is caring for 17 orphaned grandchildren inside a single, deteriorating tent shared by more than 20 people. She explained that the shelter offers no protection from rain, soaking blankets and clothes and leaving children—none older than 14—unable to keep warm.
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Food shortages have compounded the hardship. Umm Salim said that when supplies run out, she sometimes places a pot of water on the fire to give the children the illusion that food is being prepared until they fall asleep.
According to Al Mayadeen, RIA Novosti also reported that rainfall has flooded tents across Gaza, destroying what little property displaced families have managed to retain. Strong winds have forced some residents to physically hold their tents in place to prevent them from being torn apart.
Nadia Mahmoud, another displaced woman, said families have reached a breaking point as winter conditions compound years of displacement and loss. She described spending hours draining water from inside her tent and reinforcing it with iron rods salvaged from nearby rubble, while moving her remaining belongings into a single corner to protect them from the wind.
The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs confirmed that nearly 55,000 families across Gaza have been affected by recent rainfall, with shelters and personal belongings damaged or destroyed by winter storms.
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Medical organizations have warned that deteriorating living conditions are increasing the risk of disease outbreaks among displaced populations. Health groups have raised concerns about the spread of cholera and polio amid continued restrictions on the entry of medicines and medical supplies into Gaza.
Médecins Sans Frontières said its teams have recorded rising cases of respiratory infections and warned that illness rates are expected to increase further throughout the winter.
According to Gaza’s Government Media Office, around 1.5 million Palestinians are currently living in severe humanitarian conditions due to the collapse of essential services, shortages of basic supplies, and continued restrictions on aid linked to the Israeli blockade.
(PC, Al Mayadeen)
