Thousands of displaced Palestinians across Gaza are confronting a new threat as winter approaches - freezing temperatures in makeshift shelters while conflict continues to disrupt essential supplies.
A Desperate Struggle Against the Cold
In Gaza City, 46-year-old Hyam Jundieh represents the daily struggle faced by countless families. She has been unable to secure winter clothing for her children while attempting to provide basic warmth by burning crumpled paper to heat water.
The situation illustrates the compounding crises affecting civilians caught between ongoing hostilities and seasonal weather changes. Despite an agreed ceasefire, Israeli bombardments have continued, leaving many without adequate protection from the elements.
Precarious Coastal Living Conditions
Further south in al-Mawasi, 57-year-old Abu Mohammed Al Qarra faces different but equally dangerous circumstances. He was forced to position his tent just 20 metres from the seashore, where waves regularly threaten the fragile shelters erected along the beach.
This coastal positioning creates additional hazards as winter storms approach, with many families living in constant fear of their temporary homes being washed away by incoming tides.
Critical Shortages Worsen Humanitarian Crisis
The approaching winter has exacerbated already severe shortages across the region. Shelter and food remain in desperately short supply as the entire Gaza Strip prepares for what forecasters predict will be a particularly harsh winter season.
Many families report being unable to sleep due to the penetrating cold, with insufficient blankets and heating resources available. The combination of conflict damage to infrastructure and restricted aid access has created what aid agencies describe as a perfect storm of suffering.
As temperatures continue to drop, the international community watches with growing concern about how vulnerable populations will withstand the dual challenges of violence and weather in the coming months.
