Families in Gaza are trying to survive winter in tents and makeshift shelters that provide little protection from cold, wind, and rain. Severe weather has already caused deadly consequences: OCHA reports 31 storm-related deaths since the winter season began, including many children who died due to hypothermia.

Recent storms have also damaged shelters at scale. OCHA reports that between 12–15 January 2026, severe weather affected 106 displacement sites and impacted thousands of people, with injuries and fatalities reported and widespread damage to shelters and water/sanitation networks. At the same time, OCHA’s flood-risk mapping estimates nearly 795,000 people are sheltering across 761 displacement sites in flood-prone areas, meaning most families are repeatedly exposed to wet, cold conditions.

Blankets are a frontline necessity in this environment. UNICEF warns that winter conditions in Gaza increase the risk of hypothermia and respiratory infections, particularly for infants and young children, and lists blankets as a key part of winterization support.