UNICEF Mourns Deaths of Children in Gaza Amid Harsh Winter Conditions, Calls for Urgent Protection and Aid!
Amman:
UNICEF has expressed deep sorrow over the preventable deaths of children in the Gaza Strip caused by severe winter weather conditions, warning that thousands of displaced families remain exposed to life-threatening risks due to the lack of safe shelter and basic services.
In a statement issued on December 30, 2025, UNICEF Regional Director for the Middle East and North Africa Edouard Beigbeder highlighted the tragic death of Ata Mai, a seven-year-old boy who drowned on December 27 following severe flooding in an improvised camp for internally displaced people in Sudaniyeh, northwest of Gaza City. Ata is the latest child to die as a result of extreme winter conditions, with at least five children reported to have lost their lives in December alone after exposure to cold, rain, and flooding.
Ata and his family were living in a camp of around 40 tents sheltering displaced families. The camp was heavily affected by prolonged rainfall, strong winds, and freezing temperatures, placing residents at extreme risk. Ata went missing in the afternoon, and despite search and rescue efforts supported by heavy machinery, his body was recovered only hours later. His siblings are all under the age of ten, and the family had already suffered the loss of their mother during the war. UNICEF is supporting the family with essential assistance, including blankets, tarpaulins and psychosocial support, while assessing their additional needs.
UNICEF said the tragedy underscores the extreme vulnerability of children in Gaza’s hardest-hit areas, where the near-total destruction of homes, along with water and sewage infrastructure, has left families dangerously exposed to the elements. Recent heavy rainfall, freezing temperatures and strong winds have affected an estimated 100,000 families living in makeshift shelters with little or no protection. With further rain and colder weather forecast, the situation is expected to deteriorate further.
Teams visiting displacement camps reported appalling living conditions, with many tents blown away or collapsing entirely, leaving children and families without shelter. Heavy rains have also worsened sanitation risks by increasing fuel needs for sewage pumping and stormwater drainage. For instance, the Sheikh Radwan lagoon has risen from 1.8 to 2.2 meters and now requires around 7,000 liters of fuel per day to prevent overflow.
As part of its emergency winterization response, UNICEF, in coordination with UN partners, has been providing critical support to thousands of families. This includes the installation of temporary water pipelines, distribution of hygiene supplies, tarpaulins, blankets and dignity kits, and ensuring access to latrines. Efforts are also underway to clean and reopen sewage pipelines, clear stormwater inlets and reinforce tents to reduce flooding risks.
“Children in Gaza have endured enough and have the right to protection and safe shelter,” UNICEF stressed, calling for all efforts to prioritize meeting this essential need. The agency urged the urgent and large-scale entry of life-saving and life-sustaining supplies, including items previously denied or restricted.
To address critical water and sanitation challenges, UNICEF called for the large-scale entry of water treatment chemicals, spare parts and essential equipment required to repair, maintain and operate water and wastewater systems across Gaza. It also emphasized the need for a sustained and increased fuel supply to prevent flooding, sewage exposure and serious public health risks, including potential disease outbreaks linked to disrupted waste collection.
UNICEF reiterated that without immediate action to protect displaced families from harsh winter conditions, children will continue to bear the heaviest and most tragic consequences.
