Despite a ceasefire that has now lasted more than four months, winter weather and chronic food shortages continue to take a devastating toll on civilians in the Gaza Strip. The combination of freezing temperatures, heavy rains, and widespread malnutrition has led to numerous deaths, particularly among young children and displaced families living in makeshift shelters. (WRAL News)

According to the Palestinian Health Ministry, at least ten children have died from hypothermia since the onset of winter, with a three-month-old infant recently succumbing to the cold at the Al-Aqsa Martyrs’ Hospital. (WRAL News)

Medical professionals warn that children are the most vulnerable in these conditions. “Their energy reserves are low, and they lose heat more rapidly,” explained Dr. Ahmad Al-Faraa, head of pediatrics at the Nasser Medical Complex in Khan Younis. (WRAL News)

Humanitarian agencies say that hundreds of thousands of people remain displaced, living in flimsy tents or damaged buildings that offer little protection against winds, rain, or cold nights. The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reported that recent storms have destroyed many temporary shelters, leaving families even more exposed to the elements. (WRAL News)

The harsh winter has worsened the already dire situation caused by long-term conflict, blockade restrictions, and limited access to aid. Malnutrition has left many residents physically weakened, heightening their risk of disease and death from exposure. Data from humanitarian organizations show that malnutrition levels among Gaza’s children remain alarmingly high, with many lacking sufficient nutritious food and basic health care. (UNICEF)

The absence of adequate shelter, fuel for heating, and medical supplies has compounded these problems. Residents are forced to choose between freezing in tents or seeking refuge in structurally unsafe ruins of destroyed homes. (KRDO)

International aid groups continue to call for safe, unimpeded humanitarian access to deliver food, blankets, medicine, and shelter materials. Without urgent action, winter conditions are expected to claim more lives among the most vulnerable, especially children and the elderly. (UNICEF)