Winter Storms in Gaza Threaten Fragile Nutrition Gains
Project HOPE has opened a new health clinic in Gaza City – its sixth clinic in Gaza – at a critical moment, as winter storms exacerbate an already severe health and humanitarian crisis. The Aydia Clinic is providing essential primary and mental health care services to patients, many of whom have been displaced multiple times and now face worsening conditions due to flooding, cold temperatures, and limited access to care during the course of the conflict.
Like all Project HOPE health clinics, Aydia Clinic provides malnutrition screenings and nutritional support for pregnant and lactating women and children under five. In November 2025, 21.2% of pregnant and lactating women screened across Project HOPE’s clinics were diagnosed with acute malnutrition, down from 33.5% in October. Among children under five identified as malnourished, 1.6% were classified with Severe Acute Malnutrition and 11.4% with Moderate Acute Malnutrition, both lower than October levels, showing steady improvements after the multi-month aid blockade was lifted.
While these improvements are encouraging, these figures remain dangerously high, and winter storms threaten to reverse this progress. Floodwater from Storm Byron has inundated displacement sites across Gaza, flooding and destroying more than 53,000 tents – often the only shelter families have to call home, along with the few belongings they have managed to keep after repeated displacement.
The storm has also destroyed dozens of agricultural greenhouses, forced the closure of 16 community kitchens, and delayed the delivery of food and humanitarian aid, interrupting a fragile and still recovering food system. Project HOPE teams on the ground report that widespread flooding is increasing the risk of infectious disease outbreaks. Combined with cold weather, which raises the body’s energy needs, these conditions pose serious dangers for a population that is only now beginning to see nutritional improvements. “It is cold as winter approaches, but I have to be strong to protect my children. There is no escape,” said a widow in Gaza at one of Project HOPE’s health clinics.
Project HOPE continues to operate six clinics across Gaza and support frontline health workers delivering care under extreme conditions. Teams are distributing critical winter supplies – including tents, blankets, and dignity kits – but urgent additional support is needed to help families endure winter safely and access lifesaving care.
Access updated photos from our response in Gaza here. Direct media inquiries to media@projecthope.org
