Gaza faces harsh winter: Palestinians fight to stay warm amid crisis

Khan Younis : As winter descends on Gaza, nearly 2 million displaced Palestinians are facing severe challenges in protecting themselves from the cold, wind, and rain. Many are living in makeshift shelters with inadequate protection against the harsh weather, and with scarce resources, they struggle to stay warm.

Shadia Aiyada, displaced from Rafah to Muwasi, is one of many struggling to keep her eight children warm in their fragile tent. She explained that they only have one blanket and a hot water bottle, and they live in constant fear that strong winds will tear apart their tent, leaving them exposed to the elements. Aiyada shared that the family is particularly concerned about strong winds, as they might destroy the tent while they are inside. The children, who only had summer clothes when they fled, are now relying on borrowed clothes to survive the winter chill, with nighttime temperatures dropping to the low 40s (mid-to-high single digits Celsius).

The United Nations has warned that the precarious shelters housing displaced families may not withstand the winter, leaving them vulnerable to further hardship. The U.N. estimates that at least 945,000 people are in desperate need of winter supplies, including blankets and clothing, but these essential items have become prohibitively expensive due to the ongoing blockade. The U.N. Agency for Palestinian Refugees (UNRWA) has been attempting to assist, distributing 6,000 tents in northern Gaza, but their efforts are hindered by restrictions on supplies, limited access to certain areas, and logistical challenges.

Tens of thousands of blankets, mattresses, and other winter supplies are stuck in neighboring countries due to Israeli restrictions, leaving many families without the basics they need to survive. Dionne Wong, deputy director of programs for the International Rescue Committee, stated that the ability for Palestinians to prepare for winter is essentially very limited.

Despite these difficulties, the Israeli government has stated that it has been working with international organizations to send winter supplies into Gaza, including heaters and clothing. However, residents and aid workers say that for most people, the cost of winter clothing in Gaza’s markets is unaffordable, worsening their suffering.

For many families, the cold is just one of many fears. Reda Abu Zarada, displaced from northern Gaza, described her family’s struggle to survive. She stated that they do not have doors and the tents are torn, with blankets failing to keep them warm. She explained that they can feel the frost coming from the ground and expressed her fear that one day, they might wake up to find one of her children frozen to death.

Omar Shabet, displaced from Gaza City, also faces the harsh winter with his three children. He explained that they worry lighting a fire outside their tent might make them a target for Israeli warplanes. He shared that they stay inside their tents after sunset, as it gets colder by midnight, and his 7-year-old daughter often struggles with the cold, crying at night.

With the ongoing conflict, these conditions have exacerbated the suffering of families already living through a devastating war. The humanitarian situation is dire, and as the weather worsens, aid efforts become even more critical to prevent further loss of life.

With PTI inputs