UNICEF State of Palestine Humanitarian Situation Update (Winterization and Humanitarian Response) - 20 January 2026

SHIVERING THROUGH RAIN, WIND, AND COLD NIGHTS IN FRAGILE SHELTERS – A WINTER NO CHILD SHOULD FACE

Situation Update

• Children in Gaza are exposed to harsh winter conditions, including cold temperatures, heavy rainfall, strong winds of 30-40 km/h (19-25 mph), and contaminated floodwaters. Night-time temperatures drop to around 8-11°C (46-52 °F), leaving thousands unprotected in inadequate shelter.
• Repeated winter storms – including major flooding on 30 December 2025 and 9 January 2026 – have destroyed or damaged thousands of makeshift tents and shelters, forcing families and children to endure cold, wet, and unsafe living conditions.
• Displacement remains widespread, with nearly 1 million people lacking adequate shelter and many families living in tents or structurally compromised buildings at risk of collapse, increasing children’s exposure to cold and weather-related hazards.
• At least seven children have reportedly died from hypothermia this winter, including a two-month-old baby and a one-year-old child, underscoring the deadly impact of exposure to cold conditions without adequate shelter.

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