Severe Weather Hits Displaced Gazans Hard, Urges UN for Swift Aid

Thu Dec 18 2025 22:21:16 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

Heavy rains have exacerbated the plight of nearly 55,000 families displaced in Gaza, prompting urgent calls from UNICEF for humanitarian aid as conditions worsen for those living in makeshift shelters.

Severe rainfall and strong winds have rendered the living conditions of displaced Palestinians in Gaza even more dire, particularly for children at risk of hypothermia. With a death toll rising due to collapses of makeshift shelters, UN and humanitarian organizations stress the urgent need for aid.

Heavy rains over the past week have compounded the already dire living conditions of the hundreds of thousands of displaced Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, UN agencies say.

Unicef spokesman Jonathan Crickx told the BBC that the weather overnight had been horrendous, with the rain so intense that he had seen up to 15cm (6in) of water on the ground near his office.

He said he was extremely concerned that children living in tents and makeshift shelters in wet clothing would succumb to hypothermia and other illnesses.

Gaza's Hamas-run health ministry has said one baby has died from hypothermia and at least 11 other people have died in building collapses caused by the severe weather.

UN agencies have stepped up deliveries of tents, blankets and clothes since the Gaza ceasefire began nine weeks ago, but they have said there is still not enough aid getting in.

The UN and its partners estimate that almost 55,000 families have so far been affected by the rains, with their belongings and shelters damaged or destroyed.

More than 40 designated emergency shelters were severely flooded following downpours on Monday and Tuesday, forcing many people to relocate again.

Last night was really horrendous for the families. The heavy rains were so intense that we could see from our office and guest house 10cm, 15cm (4-6in) of water at some point. And the winds were so strong, Jonathan Crickx, chief of communications for Unicef State of Palestine, told the BBC's Today programme on Wednesday.

Many tents were also at risk of being blown away or destroyed by the strong winds accompanying the rain because they were only made from a piece of tarpaulin or plastic sheeting nailed to a fragile wooden structure.

Mr. Crickx said Unicef had been able to bring in more aid during the ceasefire to help children cope with the harsh winter conditions, but that it was not enough. He warned, the scale of the needs is so immense that we still have thousands of people and children who are really suffering every night.

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has stressed the need for increased and sustained humanitarian assistance to respond to urgent and long-term needs, including food, shelter and equipment for the repair of critical infrastructure.

Amidst the continued suffering, local voices are urgently calling for global action to address the crisis, with many demanding the rebuilding of homes to ensure displaced families are no longer living in the streets. As the situation develops, the world watches closely, hoping for swift and effective aid delivery to those affected.