Gaza Displaced Face Severe Winter Shortages as UN Warns of Rising Cold Risks

Displaced families across the Gaza Strip are struggling against low temperatures and rainwater flooding inside makeshift camps as winter sets in. According to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), approximately 650,000 children require urgent winter assistance, including warm clothing and bedding.

OCHA reports that 94 percent of Gaza's population requires shelter support, with 65 percent of households currently residing in tents or temporary structures. Recent heavy rainfall has affected more than 106,000 people, while UNICEF estimates that around 950,000 displaced Palestinians reside in areas vulnerable to severe flooding. The United Nations Children's Fund warned that dropping temperatures elevate the risk of hypothermia and respiratory infections among young children.

Health authorities in Gaza recorded at least 11 child deaths caused by hypothermia during the previous winter season. On Thursday, a nine-month-old infant died from hypothermia in a Gaza City tent camp, according to details provided by his family to news agencies. Humanitarian workers report that families living under damaged tarpaulins generally lack heating equipment, leaving parents unable to insulate temporary shelters from the cold.

Rising prices and severe supply shortages have further constrained access to essential winter goods. In Gaza City markets, merchants attribute the high cost of garments to limited imports resulting from Israeli restrictions and elevated wholesale prices. Displaced residents, many of whom have lost their livelihoods during more than three years of military operations, report having to choose between purchasing basic foodstuffs, buying winter garments, or acquiring plastic sheets to repair leaking tents.

International relief operations continue to face substantial financial constraints. By September, aid agencies had secured winter garments for 9,000 households and bedding for 50,000 households, representing a small fraction of the overall requirement. UNICEF is seeking 97.5 million dollars for its 2026-2027 winter response appeal to provide targeted relief to 540,000 children and family members across Gaza and the West Bank.

Written by Andreas Hofer andreas.hofer@alpineweekly.com