Children in Gaza are facing increasingly dangerous and difficult conditions as winter arrives for a fourth year during the war, UNICEF spokesperson Ricardo Pires said. He warned that cold weather would add new risks to children’s safety and well-being, while years of hardship have left them struggling to endure the conditions around them.
Pires said the winter season brings additional problems for children already affected by the consequences of the conflict. Their humanitarian situation has become dire, he said, and many are unable to cope with harsh weather while living amid continuing disruption and damaged infrastructure.
UNICEF has responded by providing equipment and supplies intended to help children through the winter, Pires said in an interview with Cairo News Channel. But he stressed that the needs extend beyond seasonal preparations. Assistance must also address sanitation and infrastructure, which are essential to improving living conditions and limiting further risks.
Many children need tents or homes that must be rebuilt, Pires said. Families have been forced to live in difficult circumstances for three years, exposing children to multiple threats. The arrival of colder, wetter weather may compound those hardships, particularly for people without adequate shelter.
Pires warned that flooding could make conditions still more dangerous. He said the risk of floods could increase the difficulties children face, and that the humanitarian situation may deteriorate further if current conditions continue. Gaza’s weakened infrastructure and sanitation systems add to the concern, he said.
The UNICEF spokesperson’s remarks highlighted the connection between immediate winter needs and the longer-term requirements of recovery. Warm clothing and other seasonal supplies can help children cope with cold weather, but they cannot resolve the broader problems caused by inadequate shelter, damaged homes, poor sanitation and weakened infrastructure. Pires said children need both emergency assistance and improvements to the conditions in which they live.
The warning also points to the risks posed by flooding in places where infrastructure and sanitation services have deteriorated. If heavy rain overwhelms damaged systems, already difficult living conditions could worsen. Pires did not provide figures for the number of children at risk or specify locations most vulnerable to flooding, but emphasized that the danger could grow if the situation remains unchanged.
UNICEF’s efforts, as described by Pires, include distributing equipment and supplies to help children manage winter conditions. The organization’s response must also take account of needs that persist throughout the year, including shelter and sanitation. The statement did not detail the quantities of supplies delivered or the specific locations where assistance has been provided.
For children who have spent years in unstable and harsh conditions, another winter brings a fresh test of their safety and resilience. Pires said children could no longer bear the severity of the circumstances they face. His comments underscore the urgency of providing adequate shelter and addressing the infrastructure problems that can expose families to cold, flooding and deteriorating sanitation.
The outlook remains uncertain. Pires warned that conditions could worsen in the coming period if the current situation continues, particularly as flooding risks increase. His remarks emphasized that protecting children requires more than a short-term winter response: it also depends on rebuilding homes, improving sanitation and restoring infrastructure so families can live in safer conditions.
The warning comes as Gaza enters another winter with many children still facing the consequences of years of conflict. UNICEF says it is supplying equipment and assistance, but the scale of need extends beyond seasonal relief. Without improvements to shelter and essential infrastructure, children could remain exposed to the same hazards as weather conditions become more severe.
