A Fragile Peace, A Harsh Winter: The Struggle to Survive in Gaza

Almost two months since the October 10 ceasefire, a delicate calm has come to the Gaza Strip, giving much-needed relief to families who have gone through terrible suffering. For thousands, months were spent without homes, sleeping under the open sky where the stars were both comforting and a sad reminder of what they had lost. But as a hard winter comes, this fragile peace is being tested by a new and pressing problem for the thousands of displaced families who have lost everything.

This text tells of the worsening crisis through individual stories, showing the everyday search for shelter, food, and safety when facing great difficulty.

1. The Human Side of Displacement: One Family's Story

To understand how bad the crisis is, here's the story of Sabah, her husband Ahmad, and their seven children. After losing their home, they spent weeks sleeping outside, constantly moving without a safe place to go. They have been on the move constantly, losing what little they own and their sense of safety with each move.

We ran from Shuja’iya to Rimal, then to the south – Rafah, Deir al-Balah, Nuseirat – and then back to Shuja’iya... Every time we move, we lose more of what little we have.”— Ahmad, a displaced father

Their story is a small version of a bigger problem, with a string of heartbreaking events that have left the family in pieces.

A String of Problems

• Ahmad's Health: Ahmad has a heart problem but can't get the medicine he needs, putting his health at risk.

• Injuries to their Children: The children are scarred by the trauma of the conflict. One has a head injury that caused memory loss, while another fell from a building during a strike.

• The Worst Loss: The family had the indescribable loss of a child who died from hepatitis, made even more painful by their helplessness.

She passed away because I couldn’t get her the medicine she needed... I didn’t even have food – not even a sprinkle of salt.— Sabah, on the loss of her child

This family's deep suffering isn't the only case; many others in Gaza face similar struggles to survive every day.

2. The Everyday Fight for Basic Needs

Before the ceasefire, life was an everyday fight for survival, defined by a lack of important items. Families often went days without food or clean water, making parents make tough choices to protect their children.

The hardest thing for a father... is to see your children thirsty, to have water but not allow them to drink because it has to last for days.— Ahmad, on the scarcity of clean water

This constant struggle is shown by the story of Mervat, a mother of five. Her family has been displaced ten times and now lives in a temporary shelter. Her husband, a builder, hasn't been able to find work for months. They spend their days trying to find basic things: her son has to walk far to get water, while her daughters often wait in long lines for food, sometimes getting nothing because supplies run out.

For Mervat, the daily hardship is tied to not having a proper home, which puts her children at constant risk.

“There’s nothing, not even a wall to lean on... Sometimes it’s cold, and it affects the children. It’s just fabric; there’s not much safety.”— Mervat, a displaced mother of five

3. A Shelter Crisis as Winter Nears

The amount of displacement has made a serious shelter crisis in Gaza. Hundreds of thousands of people simply don't have a safe place to go.

1. Mass Displacement: The United Nations says that almost 1.9 million Palestinians have been displaced since October 2023. Since the ceasefire, IOM partners have noted 639,000 people traveling from the south to Gaza City, with many moving further north toward Jabalya and Beit Hanun looking for safety.

2. Widespread Destruction: The damage is almost total, with over 92% of homes in Gaza damaged or destroyed. Families returning to their neighborhoods often find only rubble.

3. Not Enough Shelter: Many now live in temporary tents made of canvas and wood, set up on muddy ground. Others stay in damaged buildings that aren't safe or sleep outside with no protection from the weather.

The Danger of Cold

The lack of good shelter makes the coming winter deadly. Cold winds and rain are already hitting crowded camps. Last winter, over a dozen people, including babies, died from the cold. These deaths can be avoided if families get help before the worst weather hits.

Families urgently need tents, blankets, and warm clothing. The cold is setting in. Without shelter and warmth, the suffering will get worse.— Mohammad Najjar, Beit Lahia Development Association (BLDA)

As the temperature drops, aid groups are rushing to provide important help.

4. How Aid Is Being Delivered

International and local aid groups are working to meet the urgent needs of displaced families. They are focused on providing shelter, warmth, and comfort.

Organization	Aid Provided
IOM (International Organisation for Migration)	Delivered over 660,000 hygiene and shelter items, including more than 11,000 tents.
IRC (International Rescue Committee)	Giving out over 800 sets of winter clothing (jackets, hats, gloves, etc.) and offering support for children and caregivers.

But, the main problem for giving aid is access. The IOM says that its warehouses are full, trucks are loaded, and aid is ready to go. But this help can't reach those who need it until the crossings into Gaza are open.

The ceasefire has given a needed break, but families like Sabah's and Mervat's have needs that are growing as fast as the winter temperatures are dropping. “Palestinian aid workers, with help from the international community, are starting the long recovery,” says Mohammad Najjar. “But it will take peace, determination, and working together to make sure that Palestinians in Gaza are safe and have their dignity.”