By Dr Zawwar Hussain
Gaza’s humanitarian crisis has entered another devastating phase with the arrival of winter, heavy rainfall and flooding. After months of conflict, displacement and destruction, thousands of Palestinian families are now struggling to survive in freezing conditions, often without proper shelter, clean water, food or medical care. For people who have already lost their homes and livelihoods, winter has become another battle for survival.
Heavy rain has flooded makeshift shelters and fragile tents where displaced families have sought refuge. Mattresses, blankets, clothes and essential belongings have been soaked, leaving people with little protection against the cold. Many families have nowhere else to go. Their homes have been destroyed, temporary shelters are inadequate and damaged infrastructure has made ordinary rainfall a serious threat.
For mothers with young children, the situation is particularly distressing. They must keep their families warm while sitting in wet tents, surrounded by mud and stagnant water. Without heaters, dry bedding or sufficient blankets, even a single cold night can become dangerous. Such suffering cannot be understood through statistics alone. It demands a response from the conscience of humanity.
Children, newborn babies, pregnant women, elderly people and those with chronic illnesses face the greatest risks. Exposure to cold, poor nutrition, contaminated water and inadequate medical facilities can quickly turn an already difficult situation into a medical emergency. Infants and young children are especially vulnerable to hypothermia, a condition in which the body loses heat faster than it can produce it. Wet clothes, soaked bedding and prolonged exposure to cold make the danger even greater.
The crisis also exposes the wider consequences of war. Conflict does not end with destroyed buildings or the loss of life. It damages the systems on which ordinary people depend, including water supplies, sanitation, healthcare, education, housing and employment. When drainage networks collapse, roads become unusable and water facilities stop functioning, even moderate rainfall can trigger widespread humanitarian distress.
This is the reality facing Gaza. Floodwater, damaged sewage systems and overcrowded temporary settlements have increased the risk of disease. Contaminated water can spread diarrhoeal infections, hepatitis and other waterborne illnesses, placing further pressure on an already struggling health system. Families need more than emergency food supplies. They require safe drinking water, sanitation facilities, medicines, fuel, drainage equipment and functioning healthcare services.
The immediate humanitarian response must therefore focus on protecting the most vulnerable. Weather-resistant tents, waterproof sheets, warm clothing, blankets, mattresses, food, infant nutrition, clean water and essential medicines are urgently needed. Relief agencies must also improve drainage and sanitation in temporary settlements to prevent further flooding and disease.
However, distributing emergency supplies alone will not resolve the crisis. Gaza needs a coordinated humanitarian strategy that addresses immediate survival as well as longer-term recovery. Safer temporary accommodation, restored water networks and functioning medical facilities must become priorities. Ultimately, damaged homes, hospitals, schools, roads and sanitation systems will have to be rebuilt if displaced families are to regain a sense of security and dignity.
The international community cannot treat this suffering as another passing humanitarian emergency. The United Nations, international relief organizations, Arab and Muslim countries, European states and major world powers all have a responsibility to ensure that civilians receive the assistance they need. Humanitarian relief must remain independent of political considerations. A child needing warmth, a mother seeking medicine or an elderly person requiring shelter should never become a subject of political bargaining.
The geographical conditions of Gaza make the situation even more challenging. Its dense population, limited space, coastal location and damaged drainage infrastructure increase the risks associated with flooding. When thousands of displaced people are concentrated in temporary settlements, environmental pressures can quickly magnify the consequences of conflict. This makes the restoration of essential infrastructure as important as the delivery of emergency supplies.
Pakistan has a longstanding connection with the Palestinian cause, and its people have consistently expressed solidarity with those suffering in Gaza. Pakistani citizens, charitable organizations and philanthropists can support credible relief initiatives through transparent humanitarian channels. Yet international solidarity must go beyond donations and expressions of sympathy. The Palestinian people need sustained assistance and an opportunity to rebuild their homes, livelihoods and institutions.
The fundamental issue is human dignity. Access to food, clean water, shelter, healthcare and protection should not depend on nationality, religion or political circumstances. These are basic human needs, not privileges to be granted or withdrawn.
Winter has added another layer of suffering to an already devastated Gaza. Families are struggling against cold and flooding while children face hunger, illness and psychological trauma. The international community must recognize that every delay in delivering essential assistance increases the risks faced by those with the least capacity to protect themselves.
The world must move beyond statements of concern and take practical action. Emergency shelters, blankets, warm clothing, food, clean water and medicines must reach the people who need them. Equally important is the restoration of essential services and the creation of conditions in which displaced families can live safely.
(The writer is a PhD scholar with a strong research and analytical background and can be reached at metromorning78@gmail.com)
