In the midst of harsh winter nights, the frailty of human life is painfully exposed in the makeshift camps of Gaza. Tents offer little shelter from the cold and relentless storms, and for those who have already endured the destruction of homes and communities in the ongoing genocidal war, the elements can be fatal. Among the victims of this unforgiving environment was eight-month-old Rahaf Abu Jazar, whose life was tragically cut short by the freezing conditions.

Rahaf’s mother, Hajar Abu Jazar, describes the heartbreaking circumstances that led to her daughter’s death. Despite being healthy, the infant succumbed to the bitter cold while sleeping beside her mother in a tent battered by heavy rain. “On her last night, she was laughing and playing with her siblings. I found her soaked and lifeless in the morning, her tiny body unable to withstand the cold,” Hajar recalls, her voice trembling. The lack of adequate blankets and insulation in the overcrowded tent camps turns everyday nights into a struggle for survival for children and the displaced alike.

Relatives and neighbours speak of the stark realities faced by families living under displacement. Rahaf’s uncle, Mohammed Abu Jazar, paints a vivid picture of the vulnerability endured by those left homeless: “The winter is merciless, and the tents provide no protection. Children, like Rahaf, are at constant risk. We urgently need proper shelters to survive these conditions.” The recent polar storm, coupled with the devastation caused by airstrikes, has left thousands of tents damaged or flooded, forcing families into mud-soaked shelters and exposing the scale of the humanitarian crisis.