SHIVERING THROUGH RAIN, WIND, AND COLD NIGHTS IN FRAGILE SHELTERS ¨C A WINTER NO CHILD SHOULD FACE

Situation Update

  • Children in Gaza are exposed to harsh winter conditions, including cold temperatures, heavy rainfall, strong winds of 30-40 km/h (19-25 mph), and contaminated floodwaters. Night-time temperatures drop to around 8-11¡ãC (46-52 ¡ãF), leaving thousands unprotected in inadequate shelter.
  • Repeated winter storms ¨C including major flooding on 30 December 2025 and 9 January 2026 ¨C have destroyed or damaged thousands of makeshift tents and shelters, forcing families and children to endure cold, wet, and unsafe living conditions.
  • Displacement remains widespread, with nearly 1 million people lacking adequate shelter and many families living in tents or structurally compromised buildings at risk of collapse, increasing children¡¯s exposure to cold and weather-related hazards.
  • At least seven children have reportedly died from hypothermia this winter, including a two-month-old baby and a one-year-old child, underscoring the deadly impact of exposure to cold conditions without adequate shelter.