Winter storms kill five in Gaza amid desperate conditions in makeshift camps
Source: The Guardian
Wed 14 Jan 2026 02.41 CET
Severe winter storms hitting Gaza have caused casualties among displaced Palestinians living under harsh conditions in makeshift camps. At least four people died when strong winds caused walls to collapse onto tents, and the Gaza Health Ministry announced that a one-year-old baby boy died from hypothermia.
Officials from Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City stated that the victims included a 72-year-old man, his 15-year-old grandson, and his daughter-in-law, who were killed when an eight-meter-high wall collapsed on them. Residents point out that although a ceasefire has been in place since October, people still lack adequate shelter to withstand winter conditions and sufficient aid.
UNICEF spokesperson James Elder reported that although military operations have slowed down during the ceasefire, they have not completely stopped. He stated that since the beginning of the ceasefire, at least 100 children have been killed by drone strikes, aerial bombardments, and other military interventions. Elder described the situation in Gaza by saying that "what is called 'calm' in Gaza would be considered a crisis for the rest of the world."
Humanitarian aid groups emphasize that more than two years of bombardment have turned homes into rubble, and sufficient shelter materials are not being allowed into Gaza. While the total death toll in Gaza has exceeded 71,400, more than 2 million people continue to struggle with freezing winter temperatures and inadequate humanitarian assistance.
Read more: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/jan/14/gaza-storms-kill-palestinians-makeshift-camps