Surviving winter: Gaza’s mothers speak out
As the harsh months of winter descend on Gaza, countless families find themselves in a desperate struggle for survival. Among them is Fida Soboh, a 39-year-old mother of seven, who lives in a fragile tent after being displaced by the ongoing conflict. Originally from Al-Zahra City, Fida’s story captures the unimaginable challenges faced by Gaza’s displaced population, where flimsy shelters offer little protection against the heavy rainstorms and freezing temperatures.
“The tent is an ongoing struggle due to the thin fabric, and no matter how many layers we wear or how many blankets we use, we cannot escape it when rain leaks into the tent, soaking our bedding and clothing,” Fida explained. “Cooking is difficult, and meals are often cold. The children try to study, but the lack of light and warmth make it nearly impossible, and they can’t stand it. The exposure to cold and dampness has affected their health, and it’s a daily battle to keep them warm, dry and safe.”
Despite these hardships, Fida is not only focused on her own family’s survival.
She also works tirelessly as a humanitarian for ActionAid, striving to bring aid and relief to others in her community who face similar struggles. Balancing her lived experiences with her dedication to helping others, Fida embodies resilience and determination even in the face of unimaginable challenges.
She is one of more than 1.6 million Palestinians — out of 1.9 million displaced — living in fragile tents and makeshift shelters, often little more than plastic sheets. These shelters provide minimal defence against the cold and rain, which has already caused widespread flooding. In recent days, hundreds of makeshift shelters have been inundated, leaving families in even more desperate conditions.
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For Fida, the most heart-breaking part of the crisis is its impact on her children. “The biggest challenge is keeping them healthy. The cold and dampness make them more susceptible to illness, and there is little access to proper medical care. Flooding is another major issue; it destroys what little we have and creates an unsafe and unhygienic environment. The emotional toll of seeing my children suffer while feeling helpless to provide better conditions is the hardest part. Even I worry if we will get through the next storm.”
Her experiences are echoed by other mothers across Gaza who face the same grim reality day in, day out. Their names have been changed.Dalia lives in a tent on the beach in Nuseirat with her family. “My children, my husband and I are suffering a lot from the cold,” she said. “We do not have enough tarpaulins… Yesterday we were flooded. [The water] washed over us and everything we have got wet.”
Mariam, meanwhile, described her fears for her young children: “We live here in a tent in the cold and freezing temperatures, and I am afraid for my young children with the severe cold. We have a shortage of blankets and clothes… and the tarps here leak [water] into the tent. Tonight, it was very cold [and there were] whirlwinds and rain. The tent was torn because of the strong wind, and rainwater leaked in on us. We woke up and found all the mattresses wet, and my little daughter woke up, and she had wet herself. I looked for a change [of clothing] for her and found the bag of clothes completely wet.”
Dareen also highlighted the unrelenting cold and inadequate shelter.
“We are in a very cold area… Yesterday we were exposed to a very difficult situation… which is the rain. [The tents were] leaking, and the mattresses and blankets were wet, and our clothes are still wet, and we do not have any change [of clothing]. So, we waited until the clothes dried on our bodies.”
Fida faced the added heartbreak of losing her husband last year. “Losing my husband has left an emotional and practical void. He was our pillar, providing stability and support. Without him, I’ve had to take on the roles of both parents, which is overwhelming. Financially, his absence has left us struggling, especially now that resources are stretched thin. The priority of ensuring my children’s safety and well-being in such harsh conditions feels heavier without him by my side.”
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Reflecting on the toll that the crisis has taken on her personally, Fida said that the situation has taken an “immense toll” on her well-being. “Emotionally, I feel a constant weight, anxiety and fear for my children’s safety and future. Losing my husband has deepened my sense of loss, leaving me feeling unbearably alone as I face these challenges. There are moments where I feel overwhelmed by sadness and desperation, especially when I see my children suffering in ways I cannot fully shield them from.”
At the same time, added Fida, she found surprising inner strength born out of necessity. “My grief and pain have also fuelled my determination to keep going, to fight for my family and to be a source of stability for my children in a world that feels anything but stable. My feelings are a mix of resilience and hope that our suffering will end, and one day we will rebuild a life of dignity and peace.”
January and February are the coldest months in Gaza, and this winter has already claimed the lives of at least seven babies who have frozen to death, with more deaths feared if urgent aid does not arrive.
ActionAid has warned that unless restrictions on aid are lifted, more children will die from the cold.
The shortages are staggering. In December, just 24 trucks carrying desperately needed shelter materials were able to enter central and southern Gaza, while only 136 reached northern Gaza. With such limited aid, families are left without essential items like weatherproof tents, blankets and warm clothing.
Fida’s message to the world is both urgent and heartfelt.
I want people to understand that we Palestinians are not just statistics.
“We are real people with dreams, families and hopes for the future. The cold, flooding and displacement are not temporary hardships; they are ongoing problems that rob us of our dignity and safety. We want the world to see us, to recognise our humanity, and to act to help us rebuild our lives.”
She stressed the need for both immediate and long-term support. “The immediate support we need is weatherproof tents, blankets, warm clothing and food; this is crucial for survival. Long-term support, such as education for our children, mental health services, and economic opportunities, will help us move from survival into rebuilding our lives. Above all, advocating for lasting peace and stability is the absolute solution we need.”
Riham Jafari, Advocacy and Communications Coordinator at ActionAid Palestine, told Middle East Monitor that not only are Palestinians facing the constant threat of death from Israeli military attacks in Gaza, where nowhere is safe, but they are also at risk from the freezing cold weather and heavy rainfall, which has already claimed several lives.
These deaths were entirely avoidable
“However, restrictions on aid mean people do not have the very basics they need — such as blankets, warm clothes, waterproof tents and tarpaulins — to protect themselves,” she explained. “Children are going to bed shivering in wet clothes because their parents have no way to keep them dry and warm, and as we enter the coldest time of the year, the situation will only get worse. Shelter items, as well as food, clean water and medicines, must be allowed into Gaza immediately.”
The NGO official pointed out that colleagues and staff at partner organisations and their children are struggling to survive themselves. “Despite the bombs, hunger and the freezing cold, they strive to meet the humanitarian needs of the people on the ground. But they need basic aid. ActionAid demands an end to the blockade on Gaza, and we call for an unrestricted flow of humanitarian relief to the Gaza Strip to fully support our colleagues and partners in their critical work this Winter. We call for an immediate and permanent ceasefire.”
Fida Soboh’s story, alongside those of Dalia, Mariam and Dareen, represents the resilience of Gaza’s mothers, who continue to care for their families despite unimaginable challenges. Their experiences are a powerful reminder of the urgent need for international action. Without immediate aid and long-term solutions, the winter will claim even more lives, and families like theirs will remain trapped in a cycle of despair.
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The views expressed in this article belong to the author and do not necessarily reflect the editorial policy of Middle East Monitor.