Three children dead from cold as heavy rains batter Gaza

• A destructive winter storm and flooding killed at least 13 people in Gaza in 24 hours, including three children who died from cold exposure and others killed by collapsing houses and walls.
• Storm Byron submerged tents and shelters for displaced persons across Gaza, leaving families exposed to severe cold, wet bedding, and an increased risk of disease due to the humanitarian crisis.

Gaza’s civil defense announced Friday that at least 13 people have died over the past 24 hours, including three children who succumbed to the cold, as a destructive winter storm swept through the embattled strip.

Storm Byron Overwhelms Shelters, Tents

The heavy rainfall accompanying Storm Byron has submerged tents and shelters across the Gaza Strip since Wednesday evening, significantly increasing the suffering of the population, the majority of whom have been displaced during more than two years of war.

The Civil Defense told AFP that three children died due to cold exposure: two in Gaza City in the north and one in Khan Younis in the south.

Shifa Hospital in Gaza City confirmed the deaths of 9-year-old Hadeel al-Masri and an infant named Taim al-Khawaja, who was only a few months old.

Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis confirmed Thursday that 8-month-old infant Rahaf Abu Jazar died from the cold at the al-Mawasi camp.

With most buildings in Gaza destroyed or damaged, thousands of tents and rudimentary shelters are spread across areas cleared of rubble.

Deaths from Cold and Structural Collapse

Mahmoud Basal, a spokesperson for the Civil Defense, reported that six people were killed when a house collapsed in the Bir al-Naaja area north of the Gaza Strip.

Four others died due to collapsing walls in three separate incidents, according to Basal.

In a statement, Civil Defense said its teams responded to calls from "13 houses that collapsed due to heavy rain and strong winds, most of them in Gaza City and the north."

No Dry Clothes, No Blankets

Under the cloudy sky in Nuseirat, central Gaza Strip, Palestinians used basins, buckets, and hoes in an effort to clear the water pooling around their tents, which are often made of plastic sheets.

Young children, some barefoot and others wearing open sandals, walked and jumped through the muddy puddles as the rain continued to fall.

The Interior Ministry announced an initial toll of 14 deaths resulting from the rain's effects since Wednesday.

Humanitarian Needs Remain Immense
The fragile ceasefire in effect between ‘Israel’ and Hamas since Oct. 10 has partially eased restrictions on the entry of goods and aid into the Gaza Strip.

However, the United Nations confirms that supplies have not entered in sufficient quantities, and humanitarian needs remain immense.

The World Health Organization (WHO) warned Friday that thousands of families "are taking refuge in coastal, low-lying, or rubble-filled areas that lack drainage or protective barriers."

WHO added in a statement, "Winter conditions, along with deteriorating water quality and sanitation, are expected to lead to an increase in cases of acute respiratory infection."