Gaza City | December 17, 2025
Relentless torrential rain over the past several days has pushed Gaza’s humanitarian crisis to a breaking point, flooding displacement camps, collapsing already-damaged buildings, and killing at least 12 people, according to local health officials. Among the dead is a two-week-old newborn who died from hypothermia, underscoring the severe lack of shelter and winter supplies for displaced families.
The Gaza Health Ministry said the infant had been admitted to a hospital intensive care unit days earlier but succumbed to the cold on Monday. In another incident in Gaza City, a man was killed when a rain-soaked, war-damaged house collapsed, officials said.
Camps Submerged, Roads Turn to Mud
Some areas of Gaza recorded more than 150 millimeters of rainfall in the past week, inundating tent settlements and turning dirt roads into deep mud. Makeshift shelters near the coast and in urban ruins filled with water as drainage systems proved inadequate or nonexistent.
Emergency responders have urged residents to stay away from structurally compromised buildings, but options are scarce. The United Nations estimates that around 80% of buildings in Gaza are destroyed or damaged, leaving families with few safe alternatives.
Aid Shortfalls Despite Ceasefire
Despite a two-month ceasefire, aid deliveries remain insufficient. Many displaced residents are living in tents along the shoreline or among the remains of bombed-out structures, exposed to cold, rain, and flooding.
Israel’s military coordination agency COGAT said millions of tents and winter supplies have been sent into Gaza. However, humanitarian organizations dispute the claim, saying assistance falls far short of needs, with winterization materials particularly lacking.
As heavy rains continue, aid groups warn of rising health risks, especially for children and the elderly, amid worsening exposure, limited medical capacity, and fragile living conditions.
