Storms Tear Through Gaza's Makeshift Shelters
On Wednesday, December 10, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) warned that heavy winter rains and high winds are wreaking havoc on Gaza's flimsy temporary shelters. Tens of thousands of displaced people live in tents or under tarps, with newborns and children especially vulnerable to low temperatures and flooding.
Winter Relief Efforts Scale Up
OCHA reports that the UN and its partners have ramped up relief operations, increasing the daily distribution of winter clothing kits for children from 5,000 to 8,000. Efforts to reinforce high-risk areas include sandbagging flood-prone zones, clearing storm drains, and removing solid waste to ease water flow.
Municipal authorities say that about 200 shoreline families relocated this week from flood-threatened sites to a newly designated area in eastern Khan Younis, highlighting the urgent need for safer ground.
Education and Child Protection Under Strain
With 65 classrooms — once used as emergency shelters — now cleaned and prepped, partners aim to resume learning activities. But ongoing blockages of educational materials at crossing points continue to delay education for hundreds of children.
Save the Children reports that winter storms forced four of its eight child-friendly spaces to close after camps flooded or were damaged by rainwater mixing with sewage. Lack of basic clothing like jackets and shoes has kept many children confined to tents, while adolescents often help their families repair shelters rather than attend support services.
Food Security and Livelihood Support
In December alone, around 260,000 people have received food assistance through 60 distribution points, each receiving two food parcels and a 25-kg bag of flour. A new distribution site in Beit Lahiya is now operational in northern Gaza.
Recognizing the role of livestock in food security, the UN dispatched 3,500 veterinary kits into Gaza — the first since August — along with animal fodder for over 100 herders and donkey owners.
Security Challenges Persist
Despite the focus on relief, OCHA notes that ongoing security incidents continue to endanger civilians and humanitarian teams, underscoring the precarious environment where aid must be delivered.
As winter grips the region, the resilience of Gaza's displaced families is tested daily. Humanitarian agencies stress that sustained efforts and unhindered access to relief materials are essential to protect the most vulnerable.
Reference(s):
Fierce winter weather puts more vulnerable Gazans at risk, UN warns
cgtn.com
