UN Reports Continued Aid Amid Cold Winter in Gaza and West Bank
The United Nations says humanitarian assistance continues to reach vulnerable families in Gaza and the West Bank, even as winter conditions intensify the hardships faced by civilians. The briefing, delivered by UN Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric, highlighted the ongoing work of aid agencies to support those most in need, particularly in areas disrupted by conflict, blockades, and economic collapse.
Scope of Aid Efforts Across the Occupied Palestinian Territories
According to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), international aid partners are maintaining operations to deliver essential food, medical supplies, shelter materials, and winter-ready services. In Gaza, where conflict has repeatedly disrupted infrastructure, aid convoys are prioritizing hospitals, clinics, and water and sanitation facilities, alongside vulnerable households with limited or no access to electricity and cooking fuel.
In the West Bank, humanitarian workers report access remains constrained in some areas due to security restrictions and administrative hurdles. Despite these challenges, NGOs and UN agencies are coordinating with local communities to identify families at greatest risk—children, the elderly, people with disabilities, and those who have lost livelihoods amid the winter season.
Winter-Specific Needs and Humanitarian Response
Winter 2024-25 has brought freezing temperatures, heavy rain, and flooding to parts of the region. Such conditions heighten risks from exposure, respiratory illness, and damage to shelters already strained by years of conflict. Aid teams are responding with several targeted measures, including:
- Distributing emergency cash and food baskets to cover basic nutrition and heating costs.
- Providing tarpaulins, insulated blankets, and thermal kits to improve shelter resilience.
- Deploying rapid medical kits and strengthening cold-chain capabilities for vaccines and essential medicines.
- Repairing and safeguarding critical water and sanitation systems to prevent disease outbreaks.
- Maintaining fuel and generator support to hospitals and humanitarian hubs.
Beyond material aid, UN agencies emphasize psychosocial support and protection services, recognizing the mental and physical toll of prolonged conflict and hardship on families. Education remains a priority as well, with temporary learning spaces and school feeding programs supporting continuity for children.
Funding and Access Challenges
OCHA notes that ongoing humanitarian operations depend on steady funding and access agreements with authorities and local partners. Fluctuations in donor contributions can jeopardize the ability to preposition supplies, repair critical infrastructure, and keep aid workers on the ground. In Gaza, the blockade and recurrent clashes complicate delivery routes, while in the West Bank, movement restrictions can delay relief convoys and complicate targeted distributions.
Despite these hurdles, humanitarian leaders stress that aid remains
