ICRC: Harsh Winter Conditions Worsen Humanitarian Crisis for Displaced People in Gaza

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) said on Tuesday that harsh weather conditions and flooding are pushing Palestinians in Gaza to their limits in their daily struggle for survival.

In a report published on the ICRC’s X platform and monitored by the Yemeni News Agency (Saba), the ICRC added that low temperatures, heavy rains, and strong winds pose new challenges for communities already displaced multiple times, who are now witnessing their tents being torn, flooded, or ripped out.

The ICRC quoted Wafaa Khader, a resident of Gaza, as saying: “Our tents are flooded, the young children are wet, and our blankets are soaked. Where do I go after my house was destroyed? I have nowhere to go.” The committee confirmed that recent winter storms have caused widespread flooding in low-lying areas and displacement camps. For many, the nightmare is compounded by the collapse of buildings already weakened by hostilities.

It noted that many displaced families, lacking alternative shelter, have moved into structurally unsound buildings, where heavy rains and strong winds increase the risk of collapse, turning these spaces into life-threatening shelters instead of places of protection.

The committee explained that in Deir al-Balah and Khan Younis, families are living in makeshift shelters that offer little dignity, privacy, or protection from harsh weather conditions.

The committee affirmed its continued support throughout Gaza for local communities to access the water, food, and medical care they need.