Gaza Humanitarian Response | Situation Report No. 50

18 Dec 2025

As of 18:00 on 17 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

Malnutrition treatment dropout numbers improved markedly, with the rate of children leaving the programme before recovery gradually dropping from 27 per cent in September to 6.5 per cent in November. This positive trend is largely attributed to reduced population displacement.
Since the ceasefire, health partners have re-opened or established 55 health service points across the Gaza Strip, including 37 in northern Gaza.

SITUATION OVERVIEW

On 17 December, reports of shelling and airstrikes continued across the Gaza Strip, including east of Jabaliya, Al Sudaniya, and Jabaliya Al Balad in North Gaza governorate, causing two casualties. Shelling was reported east of Ash Shujaiyah and At Tuffah neighbourhoods in Gaza city, including a misfired mortar which reportedly injured several Palestinians and is under investigation. In central and southern Gaza, gunfire, shelling and helicopter fire were reported east of Al Bureij and Al Maghazi as well as near Kissufim in Deir al Balah, in Bani Suheila, Qaa Qurein, Umm Al Kilab and Al Fukhkhari in Khan Younis, as well as in Rafah.

According to the Ministry of Health in Gaza (MoH), one person was killed, and 13 others injured in the last 24 hours in the Gaza Strip.

The Health Cluster reports the death of a one-month-old baby due to hypothermia, the second reported case since the start of the winter season.

UNITED NATIONS-COORDINATED AID ENTRY^*

On 17 December, at least 4,018 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 18:00 on 18 December. About 66 per cent of these pallets contained food supplies. Shelter constituted 22 per cent; water, sanitation and hygiene items - 8 per cent and health supplies made up 4 per cent of all cargo. At least 184 truckloads were offloaded at Kerem Shalom Crossing.

On the same day, UNOPS international monitors verified the collection of at least 951 pallets of UN-coordinated wheat flour from Zikim Crossing between 09:15 and 10:30. The monitors also report that an additional 123 pallets of aid comprising plastic garbage bins, safety gloves and shoes were left on the Zikim platform and did not enter Gaza. Due to inclement weather impacting road conditions, the monitoring at Kerem Shalom Crossing could not take place.

Overall, between the announcement of the ceasefire on 10 October and 17 December, at least 173,598 pallets of humanitarian cargo were offloaded, and 155,104 pallets were collected from the operational crossings. About 1.5 per cent of all uplifted aid was intercepted during transit within Gaza.

The above data excludes bilateral donations and the commercial sector.

On 17 December, two out of seven humanitarian movements inside Gaza requiring coordination with the Israeli authorities were facilitated; another three movements were initially approved but then faced impediments due to poor road condition on Philadelphi corridor and were not accomplished. Two missions to collect dump trucks and forklifts from the Kerem Shalom Crossing were cancelled due to the announcement from the Israeli authorities that dual-use items would not be authorized for entry that day.

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.

Health

Since the ceasefire, health partners have scaled up operations, with 55 health service points re-opened or newly established across the Gaza Strip, including 37 in northern Gaza.

Shelter

On 17 December, Shelter partners continued targeted assistance across the Strip:
- About 3,476 blankets were distributed to 746 families in Gaza city and North Gaza, and 1,032 blankets were provided to 172 families in Khan Younis.
- A total of 1,930 tarpaulins were distributed to 386 families in Gaza city and North Gaza, helping reinforce damaged shelters and provide protection against harsh weather conditions.
- More than 1,000 mattresses were distributed to 172 families in Khan Younis, targeting families living in displacement sites and shelters damaged by conflict.
- To improve winter preparedness, winter clothing kits were provided to 100 families in Gaza city and North Gaza, while clothing assistance through cash-based transfers reached 540 families in the same locations.
- As part of an intersectoral response to rainstorm damage, 463 tents were distributed to affected families, including 443 tents in Gaza city and 20 tents in Deir al Balah, offering urgent shelter solutions for families whose homes were damaged by heavy rainfall.

Nutrition

Partners continue screening for acute malnutrition and providing treatment. Cluster partners have re-opened three additional sites to strengthen ongoing detection and treatment efforts: one primary health care centre (PHCC) in Rafah, one nutrition site in Addaraj Shelter in Gaza city, and another PHCC in the North Gaza governorate.
Malnutrition treatment programme retention rates have shown significant improvement, with the rate of children dropping out before completing treatment gradually decreasing from 27 per cent in September to 12 per cent in October and 6.5 per cent in November. This positive trend is largely attributed to reduced population displacement.
A pilot programme for managing acute malnutrition among children 5 and older has been launched through eight partners in 13 sites across the Strip. The initiative aims to screen for acute malnutrition and provide targeted supplementation and treatment for severe cases. Partners are supporting this effort through capacity-building and supply provision.
Efforts to prevent hypothermia and strengthen Infant and Young Child Feeding (IYCF) support are ongoing in coordination with the Health Cluster. Nutrition Cluster has developed IYCF winterization guidance in English and Arabic and shared it widely with all Nutrition and Health Cluster partners.

Water, Sanitation and Hygiene

Work is currently underway to clean the main gravity sewer line in Jabaliya, North Gaza Governorate. After more than two years of war, all manholes had been backfilled. Maintenance and cleaning activities are ongoing, and a mobile pump is being used to remove wastewater from the sewer lines and accumulated sewage.
The Cluster continued dispatching hygiene items to partners for distribution to 300,000 people across the Strip, including 99,600 bars of soap, 62,800 bottles of shampoo, 62,800 bottles of dishwashing liquid, 32,000 packs of laundry powder, 10,400 adult diapers, 15,000 jerry cans, and 4,200 anti-lice kits.
In Al Mawasi, Khan Younis, the project connecting Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camps to community water tanks now serves 38,000 people, with Phase II underway to reach an additional 40,000 people. This initiative makes water collection safer and easier while reducing reliance on water trucking.
A new project to repair the Al Asqoula booster station in Gaza city has begun with debris removal. This station transfers water from the Mekorot line to the Yarmouk reservoir and surrounding neighbourhoods.

Protection

To mitigate risks and improve living conditions, teams expanded Explosive Ordnance Risk Education (EORE) sessions in Gaza city for IDPs and returnees, continued community-based risk education in Khan Younis despite access challenges, scaled up winterization assistance in Deir al Balah, and provided winter relief and protection support to returnee families in North Gaza to ensure safer and more dignified returns.
As a result of these efforts, on 18 December, protection partners reached over 9,000 people with essential services, while more than 4,000 families received winter relief and other critical assistance. This included 5,018 people participating in EORE sessions in Gaza city, emergency assistance for over 2,300 displaced families in Deir al Balah, and support for 1,893 returnee families in the North Gaza governorate. In addition, 38 people were referred to specialized psychosocial services, and 53 women received legal protection and documentation assistance, resulting in 156 legal documents, 24 birth certificates and three temporary ID cards.
Child Protection
- As of 17 December, reports from 13 partners confirmed damage to over 36 child-friendly spaces and service points across the Strip. Damage includes collapsed or flooded tents, torn tarpaulins, damaged flooring, roof leaks and access challenges - particularly in low-lying areas with poor drainage and prolonged tent use. Activities were suspended or reduced between one to seven days depending on the area and activity, affecting more than 30,000 children.
- Despite these challenges, between 15 and 17 December, partners reached over 5,000 children (including 90 with disabilities) and 3,000 caregivers through mental health and psychosocial support activities, positive parenting, case management, awareness sessions, referrals and emergency care. Over 300 children at risk received support, including unaccompanied and separated children and survivors of violence and neglect.
- During the same period, winterization assistance included distribution of winter clothing kits for more than 5,000 children, winter shoes for more than 2,000 children, and distribution of blankets, hygiene and dignity kits, diapers, tarpaulins and family tents for approximately 100 children and caregivers.
Prevention of Gender-Based Violence
- Partners working to address Gender-Based Violence (GBV) continue to support the multisectoral response for families affected by the recent storms. In total, partners distributed 13,000 dignity kits to women and girls affected by the storms.
- Between 14 and 17 December, partners also delivered 6,000 dignity kits to women and girls’ safe spaces (WGSSs) across Gaza.
- Alongside these distribution efforts, a series of trainings focused on addressing GBV in Emergencies (GBViE) were delivered, reaching approximately 30 partners between 15 and 17 December. On 15 December, case workers received training on GBV case management to strengthen survivor support. Partners continue to deliver multisectoral services through WGSSs in Khan Younis, Gaza city and the North Gaza governorate, collectively reaching around 3,500 people between 15 and 17 December.
- However, storm damage to WGSS tents has temporarily disrupted some activities. Urgent repairs to restore full functionality are required.
Mine Action
- On 17 December, two Mine Action partners conducted three explosive hazard assessments in Deir al Balah in support of rubble removal efforts and partner activity, while EORE continued across Gaza, Deir al Balah and Khan Younis governorates.

* 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.