Deadly Storm Ravages Gaza: 16 Dead, Homes Destroyed, Thousands of Displaced Camps Devastated

A severe winter storm has killed 16 Palestinians in Gaza, including two children, while destroying thousands of displacement camps and leaving a quarter million people without shelter. The polar storm "Byron" has exposed the dire conditions facing displaced families living in makeshift tents after months of conflict.

Local authorities reported that 13 homes collapsed during the two-day storm, with civil defense teams responding to hundreds of emergency calls across Gaza. The storm swept away over 27,000 tents housing displaced families, either flooding them with water, washing them away in floods, or tearing them apart with strong winds.

The International Organization for Migration warned that Storm Byron, which previously caused flooding in Greece and Cyprus, has created widespread flooding in Gaza's overcrowded displacement sites. The organization expects rain to continue in the coming hours, making conditions worse for families living in unsafe shelters.

Gaza's civil defense teams lack the equipment and resources to drain rainwater from residential areas. Israeli military operations destroyed most of their machinery, leaving them unable to respond effectively to the weather emergency.

The World Health Organization and UNICEF held a joint press conference in Geneva, warning that death tolls could rise further due to plummeting temperatures and storms. WHO representative Rick Peeperkorn confirmed at least 12 people died from cold exposure in the past 24 hours alone.

Health officials are seeing a spike in respiratory infections, including influenza, along with hepatitis and diarrhea cases. The WHO's early warning system has recorded 1.47 million acute respiratory infections and over 670,000 cases of acute diarrhea since its launch in January.

UNICEF spokesperson Ricardo Perez expressed shock at the death of 82 children in Gaza since October 10, with two children under five dying from hypothermia this week. The storm threatens more than 800,000 people, including large numbers of children - nearly half of Gaza's population.

Gaza authorities called on the UN, international organizations, President Donald Trump, and ceasefire mediators to pressure Israel to open border crossings immediately. They want emergency shelter materials, rescue equipment, and humanitarian protection for displaced families.

Since the ceasefire began, health officials have confirmed 379 Palestinian deaths and 992 injuries, with 627 bodies recovered from rubble. The total death toll has exceeded 70,000 people, while more than 171,000 have been wounded.

The storm highlights how Gaza's infrastructure collapse has left residents vulnerable to natural disasters. With most emergency equipment destroyed and border crossings restricted, even basic weather events now pose life-threatening risks to hundreds of thousands of displaced people living in temporary shelters.