Gaza Winter Humanitarian Crisis 2026: Collapsing Shelters and Rising Death Toll

The ceasefire brought an end to constant bombardment, but winter winds have become a new silent killer. On January 14, 2026, reports from Reuters and other agencies confirmed that at least four people died as walls of war-damaged buildings collapsed onto flimsy tents sheltering displaced families in Gaza City. Despite the truce in effect since October 10, humanitarian groups warn that Palestinians still lack the materials to survive the season's storms.

Gaza Winter Humanitarian Crisis 2026: Fatalities in the Tents

Authorities at al-Shifa Hospital stated that an eight-meter (26ft) wall fell onto a tent in a coastal area, killing three members of the same family. The victims included 72-year-old Mohammed Hamouda, his 15-year-old granddaughter, and his daughter-in-law. At least five others sustained injuries in the incident. Another woman was killed in a similar collapse in the city's western district.

The cold itself is proving equally deadly. The Gaza Health Ministry announced on Tuesday that a one-year-old boy died of hypothermia in Deir el-Balah, marking the seventh death from exposure this winter. Earlier this week, the deaths of a seven-day-old infant and a four-year-old girl were also recorded.

A Fragile Truce Marred by Ongoing Violence

UNICEF spokesperson James Elder revealed that at least 100 children have been killed by military operations, including drone attacks and shelling, since the truce began. Meanwhile, the Israeli military reported killing at least two people in western Rafah on Tuesday during an exchange of fire near its troops.

According to official records, more than 440 people have been killed by Israeli fire since the ceasefire came into force. Aid groups emphasize that the lack of substantial temporary housing remains the biggest obstacle to preventing further loss of life during these freezing months.