UNRWA: For third consecutive year, Gaza’s population faces winter amidst massive displacement

The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) confirmed on Wednesday that for the third consecutive year, people in the Gaza Strip are facing winter amidst massive displacement, inadequate housing conditions, and overcrowding in displacement sites.

In a report published in a post on the “X” platform, UNRWA stated: “According to the Ministry of Health, and as reported by the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), 11 children in the Gaza Strip had died of hypothermia as of 27 January – seven boys and four girls.”

The agency affirmed its continued delivery of its humanitarian services in the occupied Palestinian territory and the Gaza Strip, despite restrictions imposed on it by the “Israeli” authorities.

It added: “In the period between 7 October 2023 and 28 January 2026, according to the Ministry of Health in Gaza and as stated by OCHA, 71,667 Palestinians have been killed in the Gaza Strip and 171,343 others have been injured. Since the start of the ceasefire in October 2025, 492 Palestinians have been killed, 1,356 injured, and 715 bodies have been recovered from under the rubble.”

The agency revealed that as of 27 January 2026, it had recorded the killing of 390 of its staff and those working with the UN agency since the start of the war on the Gaza Strip, explaining that among them are 309 UNRWA staff members, in addition to 81 people who were supporting UNRWA activities.

The UN agency noted that its health teams recorded a significant increase in acute respiratory infection cases, with 9,613 cases reported between 26 January and 1 February, compared to 8,963 cases the previous week. It indicated that UNRWA continues to monitor the situation in coordination with the Ministry of Health and health partners in Gaza.

It also pointed out that it recorded an increase in cases of acute jaundice syndrome (Hepatitis A) associated with contaminated water. Since 1 October 2025, more than 480 cases have been reported.

Despite a decline in cases over the past two weeks thanks to targeted Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) interventions, such as the chlorination of contaminated sites carried out by UNRWA teams, the agency stated it will continue to monitor the situation.

UNRWA reported that it is monitoring displacement movements and sites, estimating that 75,000 displaced persons are living in UNRWA collective emergency shelters and surrounding areas, including 83 displacement sites managed by the agency.

It clarified that there are currently 117 UNRWA facilities located within the “Israeli” military zone and areas requiring access coordination or approval from the Israeli army.

Regarding the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem, the UN agency said: “According to OCHA, in the period between 7 October 2023 and 27 January 2026, 1,050 Palestinians have been killed, including at least 230 children, in the West Bank and East Al-Quds.”

It mentioned that during the intermittent military operation launched by “Israeli” forces in Kafr ‘Aqab and its surroundings, north of Al-Quds, which lasted for four days until 30 January, reports indicated that “Israeli” forces demolished about 70 Palestinian-owned buildings near the separation wall in the West Bank.

On 1 February, “Israeli” forces extended the military order related to the ongoing “Iron Wall” operation in the northern West Bank until 31 March next. This includes the military closure order for the Jenin, Nur Shams, and Tulkarm camps, all of which have been emptied of their residents, leading to the forced displacement of 33,000 Palestine refugees due to the ongoing operation since January 2025.

The agency confirmed that water and electricity have been gradually cut off to UNRWA facilities in East Al-Quds, starting 27 January, as a result of the application of amendments to “Israeli” laws targeting the UN agency.

The Director of UNRWA Affairs in the West Bank condemned these cut-offs, describing them as “aimed at ending UNRWA’s historical presence in East Al-Quds.”

The agency noted that it is providing learning services in Gaza through temporary learning spaces and its distance learning initiative.

In its report, UNRWA reviewed many of the activities and services in various fields it has provided to Palestinians in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, stressing that despite the restrictions imposed on it by the “Israeli” authorities, it continues to provide its humanitarian services in the occupied Palestinian territory and the Gaza Strip.