Palestinians in Gaza face an urgent crisis this winter, forced to make an impossible decision between living in tents exposed to harsh weather or risking their lives in the ruins of collapsed buildings. With over 400,000 homes destroyed during ongoing conflict, many families like that of Hiyam Abu Nabah are left with no viable options.
In the Hamad area of Khan Younis, Abu Nabah resides with her family in a dilapidated structure that lacks walls, leaving them vulnerable to the elements. The building’s upper floors have collapsed, creating an unsafe environment. Recent torrential rains have exacerbated the situation, leading to the deaths of at least 17 people, including children, as reported by Palestinian Civil Defense Spokesperson Mahmoud Basal.
The devastation from the floods has affected over 90 residential buildings, and approximately 90% of shelters for displaced families were reported to be completely flooded. “On the first day of the storm, we could hear the stones cracking above our heads,” Abu Nabah shared, highlighting the precarious living conditions. Her five-year-old child navigates through dangling electrical wires in a space where electricity has become a memory, while her hopes of returning to her home in Shujaiya remain distant due to military restrictions.
Nearby, Awn Al Haj illustrates the dangers of living in a compromised structure by poking at the crumbling roof of his shelter. “Three days of the storm felt like the early days of the war… you did not know what would happen while sitting here,” he recalled. His attempts to shore up the walls with mud and cover gaping holes with tarpaulin serve as temporary measures against life-threatening conditions.
In the al-Shati camp, another tragedy unfolded recently when a building collapse claimed the life of a man inside. Neighbors reported that the building had been severely damaged by an Israeli airstrike, and the winter weather proved to be the final blow. “Houses keep collapsing. Someone do something about how we are living,” a neighbor lamented, underscoring the dire situation.
Mohammad Fathi of the Gaza Civil Defense, which operates as an emergency service, expressed concern over the lack of heavy machinery to aid in rescue efforts. “With every winter storm, many families and many children will die,” he warned. Although the Civil Defense advises residents to evacuate damaged buildings during heavy rain, many feel they have no choice but to remain.
The United Nations has reported that 1.3 million Palestinians urgently require shelter this winter. Recent figures from the Israeli agency COGAT indicate that nearly 310,000 tents and tarpaulins have been brought into Gaza, along with over 1,800 trucks of warm blankets and clothing. Yet, the UN and various international NGOs are calling for increased aid access, citing that they are blocked from delivering assistance directly to Gaza.
Tragically, among those who lost their lives due to the severe weather last week were a two-week-old baby and an eight-month-old child, both succumbing to hypothermia. With a significant portion of shelters flooded, more families now find themselves forced into precarious structures that were once their homes.
Bakr Mahmoud al-Sheikh Ali, a resident of Khan Younis, reported ongoing building collapses in his neighborhood. “People are afraid, but they tell you they need shelter, they do not want a tent and water in this cold weather… whatever happens, happens,” he stated. The overwhelming sentiment among displaced Gazans is clear: this is no way to live.
As winter progresses, the situation in Gaza remains dire, with families caught between the harsh realities of inadequate shelter and the dangers of crumbling buildings. The international community continues to call for immediate action to alleviate the suffering of those affected.
