• Extreme summer heat exacerbates existing humanitarian crises in Gaza.
• Families face severe water shortages, with up to 93% of households lacking enough clean water.
• Many residents must walk long distances for water amid rising temperatures and humidity.
• The lack of electricity and sanitation worsens living conditions, risking public health.
• UNICEF warns that without fuel, vulnerable children may face life-threatening conditions.

For Rida Abu Hadayed, summer adds a new layer of misery to a daily struggle to survive in the war-ravaged Gaza Strip. With temperatures exceeding 30 degrees Celsius (86 degrees Fahrenheit), she faces unbearable humidity while caring for her seven children in a cramped nylon tent. The absence of electricity and basic necessities leaves her with few means to provide relief for her family. “There is no electricity. There is nothing,” she said, her face beaded with sweat, highlighting the severe conditions faced by many in Gaza, according to Indiatimes and TRT Global.

The heat in Gaza has intensified ongoing hardships for the area's 2 million residents. Aid groups warn that reduced water availability and crippled sanitation networks may lead to cascading illnesses among displaced individuals. Many residents are forced to ration water, limiting their ability to wash and cool down, exacerbated by the scorching temperatures. “We are only at the beginning of summer,” said Yousef Hadayed, Rida's husband, expressing the dire circumstances they face, as reported by LA Times and TRT Global.

Access to clean water remains critically limited; reports indicate that only 40% of drinking water production facilities are functioning in Gaza due to fuel shortages, with up to 93% of households facing water shortages. The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs has warned of the imminent collapse of water and sanitation infrastructure under these pressures. The situation has become dire for families like the Hadayeds, who have been displaced from their homes in eastern Khan Younis, according to Indiatimes and LA Times.

UNICEF has recently stated that if fuel supplies are not permitted to enter Gaza, many vulnerable children may suffer from life-threatening dehydration. Rida's relative, Reham Abu Hadayed, who is also displaced, fears for the health of her children, saying, “I don’t have enough money to buy them medicine.” The ongoing crisis has left families exhausted and at risk, struggling under the weight of both heat and health challenges, as noted by TRT Global and LA Times.

Additionally, residents like Mohammed al-Awini endure not only the sweltering heat but also unrelenting pests due to inadequate sewage systems. The overflow of garbage attracts insects, further complicating their dire living conditions. “We are awake all night, dying from mosquito bites,” he said, expressing the fatigue shared by many in the area, according to Indiatimes, TRT Global, and LA Times.