Cold, flooding, and blocked aid push war-torn Gaza into new crisis

The cold weather, heavy rains, and lack of tents and shelter equipment have become yet another layer of suffering for Gaza’s population, already living amid the ruins left by two years of Israeli attacks on the besieged enclave.

According to The New York Times, the extreme shortage of tents and essential shelter supplies has left more than one million Palestinians exposed to winter cold and disease, while thousands of temporary shelters have been damaged or destroyed by recent storms.

In recent months, Israel has severely restricted or completely halted the entry of basic shelter materials—including tents, poles, tools, and tarps—even under the U.S.-backed ceasefire agreement that obliges Israel to allow unimpeded humanitarian aid.

Israel has classified certain aid items, such as tent poles, as “dual-use,” claiming they could be used to manufacture weapons. Some aid organizations have been barred from bringing in tents altogether, and only contributions from select countries are being accepted—supplies that are neither waterproof nor suitable for winter conditions.

Meanwhile, the continued closure of the Rafah crossing and the funneling of aid through just two access points have drastically slowed urgent repairs to Gaza’s destroyed water and sewage systems. These fragile networks collapse during even mild storms, triggering major flooding.

Recent rainfall has caused contaminated floodwaters to sweep through streets and camps. According to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), more than 740,000 people have been affected, with what little remained of their shelter and possessions washed away.

Save the Children has warned that children in Gaza are sleeping on wet, sewage-contaminated ground, wearing damp and worn-out clothing, and facing constant exposure to life-threatening illnesses.

The World Health Organization also says environmental pollution combined with freezing temperatures could further deepen Gaza’s already catastrophic public health crisis.

Forecasts predict above-average rainfall, strong winds, and high coastal waves this winter—conditions made far more dangerous by overflowing sewage ponds, 500,000 tons of uncollected waste, and flimsy tents set up on exposed ground.

At the same time, a UN humanitarian report shows that Israel has deprioritized UN aid shipments while allowing in high-value, low-nutrition commercial goods such as soft drinks and chocolate.

On Saturday, the UN confirmed that Israeli forces blocked three aid convoys—including tents, food, and essential supplies—from entering the Kerem Shalom crossing. Since October 10, only 8% of incoming aid to Gaza has consisted of emergency shelter materials.

A UN official stated: “Since the ceasefire, nothing has changed. Administrative and bureaucratic barriers continue to severely obstruct the delivery of shelter supplies.”

With Gaza’s population confined to devastated, infrastructure-less areas, respiratory and infectious diseases have surged, and child malnutrition has left thousands even more vulnerable.

In response, the UN and Gaza’s Ministry of Health have launched the first phase of a catch-up vaccination campaign. More than 13,000 children have so far been immunized against measles, whooping cough, and polio.

Among 6,827 children assessed, 508 were identified with severe acute malnutrition.

According to UNICEF, 9,200 new cases of severe acute malnutrition were recorded in October. While slightly lower than in previous months, the numbers remain deeply alarming.