Gaza Displacement Crisis Deepens Winter Humanitarian Peril, Afghan Earthquake Survivors Face Urgent Shelter, Food Needs

Both Gaza and Afghanistan are facing severe humanitarian crises as they brace for the upcoming winter of 2025–2026. In Gaza, over 66,000 deaths have occurred due to the Israeli war, with nearly the entire population displaced into inadequate shelters lacking food, heating, and sanitation, raising fears of widespread disease and suffering in the cold season. Similarly, Afghanistan is confronting acute food insecurity and a dire shelter shortage following a devastating 6.0 magnitude earthquake that killed over 2,200 people and destroyed thousands of homes, leaving millions in tents and makeshift shelters exposed to freezing temperatures. Pregnant women in Afghanistan face heightened health risks, with many forced to give birth in tents amid harsh conditions and poor access to medical care. Aid organizations like the IFRC and the World Food Programme have highlighted the urgent need for funding and support to provide safe shelter, food, and medical assistance, but funding shortfalls and logistical challenges hinder relief efforts. Both regions are also grappling with compounding crises, including malnutrition, psychological stress, and protection risks for vulnerable populations such as women and children.