Winter storms are making Gaza’s humanitarian crisis even worse. Heavy rains have damaged and destroyed thousands of makeshift shelters, leaving displaced families exposed to freezing temperatures, the United Nations (UN) said in a briefing. At least 1.1 million people urgently need help as the weather keeps getting worse, threatening to undo recent progress in aid delivery.
UN teams distributed supplies to 28,000 families last week—including 1,600 tents, 16,000 tarpaulins, and 27,000 blankets. But another storm on Friday destroyed more shelters, leaving thousands without protection. “We do believe that it is a critical activity,” said UN Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric, referring to education supplies Israeli authorities continue to block from entering Gaza. They argue education isn’t essential during the first phase of the ceasefire.
Children are suffering the most. Four infants have died from hypothermia, according to Gaza’s Ministry of Health. Aid groups have handed out over 310,000 winter clothing sets for children and more than 112,000 pairs of shoes since the ceasefire began. They’ve also set up 150 specialized tents as child-friendly safe spaces across Gaza.
Malnutrition is spreading fast. Nutrition partners screened more than 76,000 children last month and found around 4,900 cases of acute malnutrition—including over 820 severe cases. That brings the total number of acute malnutrition cases identified in 2025 to nearly 95,000. The numbers show how quickly conditions are deteriorating, especially for the youngest and most vulnerable.
Aid workers stress that tents are only a stopgap measure. What’s really needed are durable solutions—tool kits, cement, and heavy machinery to clear debris so families can rebuild. That requires sustained funding and a shift from emergency relief to early recovery. Education is slowly expanding, with 440 temporary learning spaces now open for around 268,000 children. But the fact that Israeli authorities are blocking education supplies shows how hard it is to move beyond basic survival.
