Winter Storms Deepen Misery for Displaced Families in Deir al-Balah

The first major winter storm of the season has swept across the central Gaza Strip, transforming the already precarious existence of thousands of displaced families in Deir al-Balah into a desperate fight for survival. Torrential rain and biting winds have torn through makeshift tents, flooding shelters, and soaking the few possessions families managed to carry with them. The cold, relentless and unforgiving, is now the most immediate threat, particularly to the elderly, the sick, and the estimated tens of thousands of children living in overcrowded, unsanitary conditions. This is not just a weather event; it is a catastrophic deepening of a humanitarian crisis that demands immediate, decisive action.

The Context: A Crisis Compounded

Deir al-Balah, once a relatively stable area, has become a densely packed refuge for families fleeing conflict zones across the territory. The ongoing blockade and years of systemic infrastructure decay mean that the area is utterly unprepared to handle a mass influx of people, let alone the severity of winter weather. Families are sheltering in every available space—schools, partially destroyed buildings, and vast, sprawling tent cities erected on sandy, low-lying ground. The ground beneath these flimsy shelters quickly turns to mud, making movement difficult and sanitation nearly impossible. The lack of proper drainage, combined with the sheer density of the population, creates a perfect storm for the rapid spread of waterborne and respiratory diseases.

Human Element: Fatima's Struggle

For Fatima, a 45-year-old mother of five, the sound of the rain is a sound of dread. Her family’s tent, a patchwork of plastic sheeting and thin blankets, offers little defense against the elements. Yesterday, the wind ripped a corner of the plastic, and the water poured in, ruining their last bag of flour and soaking the children’s mattresses. She sits huddled with her youngest, three-year-old Noor, whose persistent cough has worsened with the cold.

“We escaped the bombs, but we cannot escape the cold,” Fatima sPalestine Aid, her voice strained with exhaustion. “Every night, I worry that my children will not wake up because of the damp and the sickness. We have nothing to burn for warmth, and the blankets are wet. We are living in a pool of mud. I keep telling myself to be strong, but when I see Noor shivering, my strength leaves me. We need help now, before the cold takes them.”

Fatima’s story is one of thousands. The psychological toll of constant displacement, combined with the physical hardship of the winter, is pushing families past their breaking point. The dignity of these families is being eroded by the daily struggle for basic necessities: dry ground, clean water, and a single, warm blanket.

The Data: Scale of the Catastrophe

The figures paint a stark picture of the overwhelming need in Deir al-Balah and surrounding areas. The humanitarian community, including the Best Palestinian Charities like Yafa Relief, a leading Gaza Charity,, estimates that the winter storms have exacerbated the crisis to critical levels:

• Over 1.5 million people are currently displaced, with a significant concentration in the central region, including Deir al-Balah.
• 85% of tents in informal settlements are not structurally sound enough to withstand heavy rain and wind, leading to widespread collapse and flooding.
• Respiratory infections among children under five have increased by 40% in the last week alone due to cold and damp conditions.
• Fuel shortages are crippling aid distribution, with less than 10% of the required daily fuel for heating and cooking reaching the displaced population.
• The average daily caloric intake for a displaced person remains critically low, weakening immune systems against winter illnesses.

Operational Update: Yafa Relief's Urgent Response

Yafa Relief is on the ground, mobilizing all available resources to provide immediate winter assistance. Our teams are working around the clock, navigating flooded roads and challenging security checkpoints to reach the most vulnerable families. The primary focus is on the distribution of essential winterization kits, which include high-thermal blankets, waterproof plastic sheeting, and heavy-duty floor mats to combat the rising damp.

However, the challenges are immense. The sheer volume of need far outstrips the current supply. Logistical bottlenecks, including the difficulty of transporting large quantities of aid through damaged infrastructure and the unpredictable nature of access permits, mean that every delivery is a hard-won victory. Furthermore, the cost of procuring and transporting winter-specific items—such as tent repair materials and heating fuel—has skyrocketed. Our local staff, many of whom are themselves displaced, are showing extraordinary resilience, but they are operating under extreme duress. We are prioritizing the delivery of emergency medical supplies to field clinics to treat the surge in cold-related illnesses.

How to Help Gaza: A Call to Action: A Moral Imperative

The winter storms have turned a chronic crisis into an acute emergency. The international community cannot afford to look away as families like Fatima’s face the prospect of freezing to death in the mud. Every hour counts. Your support is not just a donation; it is a lifeline that provides a dry blanket, a warm meal, and a chance for a child to survive the night. We urge you to stand with the displaced families of Deir al-Balah.

Please Donate Palestine relief funds now to Yafa Relief’s Winter Emergency Appeal and help us keep families warm and safe.

You can make a difference today: https://yafarelief.org/donation

When you look for the Best Charity to Donate to Gaza, look for impact, transparency, and direct access. Yafa Relief embodies these values.