Gaza Humanitarian Response | Situation Report No. 49

17 Dec 2025

As of 18:00 on 16 December 2025, unless otherwise noted

This report, issued daily from Monday to Saturday, outlines efforts and progress made by the UN and its partners to scale up humanitarian response across the Gaza Strip under the ceasefire that entered into effect on 10 October 2025. For all situation reports see here.

HIGHLIGHTS

On 16 December, hygiene kits were delivered to 93 learning spaces across the Gaza Strip, benefiting over 114,900 children and helping improve sanitation conditions during the rainy season. Three new Temporary Learning Spaces were established in northern Gaza, bringing the total currently operational to 408.
Child Protection partners have reached over 300,000 children with winter clothing, shoes, blankets and other essential winter items. Yet, current assistance remains limited to children under 10, leaving a significant gap for adolescents aged 11 to 17 years.

SITUATION OVERVIEW

On 16 December, shelling and airstrikes continued across the Gaza Strip, with most incidents reported east of the so-called “Yellow Line.” In North Gaza governorate, firing was reported east of Jabaliya and Jabaliya Camp, while an airstrike impacted Beit Lahia. In eastern Gaza city, beyond shelling, an airstrike was reported in At Tuffah neighbourhood. Several houses collapsed in Al-Daraj area, Beach Camp and Al Shifaa street after heavy rainfall, with injuries reported. In Deir al Balah, shelling was reported east of Al Bureij and Al Bureij Camp. In Khan Younis, gunfire and shelling, along with airstrikes, affected areas including Bani Suheila in the east and Al Mawasi in the southwest. Gunfire and airstrikes impacted northern and northeastern parts of Rafah city, while two Palestinians were reportedly killed in recent days for reportedly approaching Israeli positions in western Rafah.

According to the Ministry of Health in Gaza (MoH), one person was killed and one other injured in the last 24 hours in the Gaza Strip.

OCHA estimates that nearly 55,000 families have been impacted so far by the most recent rains across Gaza, with their belongings and shelters damaged or destroyed in the storm across 411 sites. Shelter Cluster partners are continuing assessments and verification of reported incidents and appeals to respond to families in need of shelter and non-food item (NFI) support.

On 16 December, Site Management Cluster (SMC) partners reported 132 flood-related incidents, with 91 occurring in Khan Younis, 30 in Deir al Balah, six in Gaza city, and five North Gaza governorate. Flooding has caused widespread destruction of shelters, leaving thousands exposed to harsh winter conditions and at risk of further displacement. Particularly concerning are 22 sites sheltering over 4,000 people from 821 families, where flooding has been so severe that these families no longer have any shelter. Conditions are especially dire in makeshift sites and collective centers, where inadequate shelter and the high likelihood of repeated flooding pose serious protection and health risks. SMC partners continue to mobilize residents for clean-up and sandbagging to reduce further flooding. These efforts come amid severe shortages of waterproof tents, with many shelters on bare ground that continue to absorb water. Families also face dropping temperatures, limited heating materials, and scarce fuel and gas supplies.

As of 17 December, the Health Cluster confirmed 12 storm-related deaths: one due to hypothermia and 11 due to collapsing buildings.

UNITED NATIONS-COORDINATED AID ENTRY^*

On 16 December, at least 3,221 pallets of aid administered by the UN and its partners were offloaded at Gaza’s crossings, based on data retrieved from the UN 2720 Mechanism dashboard at 20:00 on 17 December. About 44 per cent of these pallets contained food supplies. Shelter constituted 28 per cent; water, sanitation and hygiene items - 17 per cent; health supplies - 7 per cent, non-food - 2 per cent, and other items made up nearly 2 per cent of all cargo. At least 141 truckloads were offloaded at Kerem Shalom Crossing and one at Zikim.

On the same day, UNOPS international monitors verified the collection of at least 2,973 pallets of UN-coordinated aid from Kerem Shalom Crossing. Supplies collected comprised 2,106 pallets of food assistance, including canned vegetables, chicken and chickpeas, fortified biscuits, lentils, flour, rice and date bars; 251 pallets of winter items including blankets, clothes and shoes; 187 pallets of tents and tarpaulins; 98 pallets of mattresses; 106 pallets of medical items, including medicines and laboratory supplies, and 24 pallets of WASH items.

Overall, between the announcement of the ceasefire on 10 October and 16 December, at least 169,736 pallets of humanitarian cargo were offloaded, and 152,681 pallets were collected from the operational crossings. Two per cent of all uplifted aid was intercepted during transit within Gaza.

The above data excludes bilateral donations and the commercial sector.  

On 16 December, three out of seven humanitarian movements inside Gaza requiring coordination with the Israeli authorities were facilitated; another two faced impediments but were eventually completed. Two interlinked missions to Zikim crossing to collect and undertake the monitoring of the collection were also denied.

HUMANITARIAN RESPONSE

The below are preliminary updates shared by Clusters at the time of reporting and will be reconciled and aggregated in the coming days as Clusters receive more data from the capillary network of partners active on the ground.

Food Security

As of 15 December, Food Security partners had reached 110,000 families (about 550,000 people) with the monthly general food assistance via 60 distribution points across the Strip.
Partners are actively working to strengthen transport and storage measures to mitigate the impact of severe weather on food stocks. Extra measures are being applied to check stock before dispatch and distribution, as some spoilage and damage may have occurred.
The sector emphasizes that emergency agricultural support is critical at this time, particularly given the increased access to farmland following the ceasefire and the time-sensitive nature of the planting season. Partners aim to scale up interventions to support the local food supply chain, but lack of funding and access to inputs is undermining these efforts.
There is an urgent need to sustain the modest humanitarian gains achieved in food security and nutrition and to significantly expand emergency livelihood activities. This is particularly critical as unemployment exceeds 80 percent, leaving most households in Gaza without income to meet basic needs.

Shelter

Between 11 and 16 December, Shelter Cluster partners reached about 30,000 families affected by the recent rainstorm with shelter and NFI assistance. Distributed items include8,350 tents, more than 29,000 tarpaulins, 35,000 bedding items, and around 2,400 clothing vouchers/ kits, and kitchen sets across the Strip.

Protection

Child Protection
- Child Protection partners have reached over 300,000 children with winter clothing, shoes, blankets and other NFIs. However, current assistance remains limited to children under 10, leaving a significant gap for adolescents aged 11 to 17 years, who are among the most vulnerable, particularly in areas with damaged shelters. In parallel, partners report a growing number of complex child protection cases, including severe injuries, violence, abuse, neglect, gender-based violence related cases and children requiring alternative care.
- As of 17 December, 177 child protection safe spaces and service points were operational across the Strip. However, more than 35 child-friendly spaces and safe spaces have been damaged by severe weather conditions. As a result, activities have been suspended or reduced for up to one week, affecting an estimated 30,000 children and over 15,000 caregivers.
- Ongoing heavy rain, strong winds and flooding continue to disrupt child protection services. Reported impacts include flooded tents, torn tarpaulins, collapsed or blown-away structures, damaged flooring, and access challenges, particularly in low-lying areas with poor drainage and clay soil, and at sites where tents have been in prolonged use.
Mine Action
- On 16 December, Mine Action partners conducted five explosive hazard assessments in Deir al Balah in support of rubble removal efforts and for partner activity support, while explosive ordnance risk education (EORE) continued across Gaza, Deir al Balah and Khan Younis governorates.
- On the same day, a Training of Trainers on EORE was conducted for multiple humanitarian agencies.

Education

On 16 December, hygiene materials were distributed to 93 learning spaces across the Strip. These spaces serve more than 114,900 children (57 per cent girls). These supplies are particularly critical during the winter rainy season, as they help improve sanitation conditions and reduce health risks overcrowded and weather-affected spaces.
On the same day, three new temporary learning spaces (TLSs) were established in northern Gaza: two in Gaza city and one in North Gaza governorate. This brings the total number of operational TLSs across the Strip to 408. A total of 10 high-performance tents (HPTs) were installed - four measuring 72 square metres and six measuring 48 square metres - creating safe and conducive learning environment for enrolled students, many of whom are accessing education for the first time. Demand for additional HPTs remains very high, particularly due to recurrent rains, as these structures offer greater resilience to harsh weather.
To date, there has been little progress on the entry of education supplies, including stationery, despite sustained advocacy efforts. Local procurement options remain extremely limited and prohibitive. Families cannot afford these materials, and partners lack the resources to meet the needs of the targeted population within their constrained budgets.

* All figures solely refer to UN and partner assistance dispatched through the UN-coordinated system. They are preliminary and will be reconciled in the course of the ceasefire. Supplies entering through bilateral donations and the commercial sector are not reflected.