A severe polar low has brought freezing temperatures and heavy rain to Gaza, worsening the plight of thousands of displaced families. With homes destroyed in last year’s conflict, many are left in fragile shelters, exposed to the elements.  

In Gaza City, Jihan Awad, a mother of five, struggles to protect her children in their damaged home. “Without heating or blankets, we’re helpless against the cold,” she said. Her infant daughter battles a respiratory infection worsened by dust and lack of medical care.  

Muhammad Ajur, whose home was destroyed, now lives in an unfinished apartment surrounded by rubble. “The cold is unbearable, and my daughter has an eye infection from the sand and wind,” he shared. He pleads for caravans or sturdy tents to shield his family.  

In northern Gaza, Alaa Al-Bahtini fights to keep his tent from flooding. “Every raindrop fills me with fear,” he said. “We need proper shelters and clean water to survive this winter.”  

As the polar low persists, urgent international aid is needed to provide tents, blankets, and heating materials. For Gaza’s displaced families, time is running out to endure this brutal winter.