Thousands of families trying to hold on to life among the ruins of war in Gaza are now struggling with rain and freezing cold. The tragedy experienced by Palestinians whose tents were flooded and who could not find a safe place to shelter was once again revealed with the death of a 9-month-old baby. Kinan Ahmed Rakik died due to hypothermia in the makeshift tent where he took shelter with his family.
9 MONTHS OLD KİNAN COULD NOT STAND THE COLD
The doctor who spoke to the French news agency AFP and examined the baby reported that Kinan died due to cold in the displaced persons tent where his family was staying in Khan Younis, in the south of the Gaza Strip. Gaza Civil Defense Agency Spokesperson Mahmoud Bassal also confirmed the baby's death.
The death of Kinan, who was just at the beginning of his life, due to cold in a shelter that was supposed to protect him, once again revealed the grave extent of humanitarian conditions in Gaza.
RAIN LEFT THE TENTS UNDER WATER
Heavy rains in Gaza last week flooded the tents where tens of thousands of people lived. Five people, including three children, lost their lives as a result of a sand embankment collapsing on the tents after the rains.
After the disaster, hundreds of families living in camps in Gaza city as well as in the central and northern parts of the region had to escape from the rainwater that flooded their tents. Palestinians, who had to leave their homes due to years of attacks, are now having difficulty finding shelter that will protect them from rain and cold.
WINTER HAS NOT STARTED YET, THE DANGER IS GROWING
United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) Gaza Spokesperson James Elder stated that what happened was a harbinger of the approaching winter season and pointed out that the danger was still in its early stages.
Emphasizing that it is necessary to understand how severe the conditions in Gaza are, Elder said that there are only weeks left until the winter season, but we are already faced with unprecedented rainfall and cold.
The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reported that 26 thousand households were affected by the storms as of November 8. It was stated that approximately 65 percent of Gaza's population still lives in tents or other temporary shelters.
ATTACKS CONTINUE DESPITE THE ceasefire
A ceasefire was declared between Israel and Hamas on October 10, 2025. However, Israel continued its attacks on Gaza, stating that it would target those who participated in the October 7 attack. Criticisms have also been raised that Israel, which exercises strict control over humanitarian aid entering Gaza, has not made adequate preparations against the approaching cold weather conditions.
US President Donald Trump's Peace Board stated in a statement this week that Israel has not taken enough steps to prepare for cold weather conditions and that more aid materials should be delivered to the region urgently.
However, tents drenched in rain in Gaza, freezing cold and the deaths of children like Kinan continue to reveal the extent of the humanitarian crisis in the region. This death, which occurred before winter had even begun, reminded once again how vital access to shelter and basic needs is for civilians in Gaza.
