Gazans struggle after heavy rains

The deluge dumped more than 9 inches on parts of the enclave over the last week.

- BY WAFAA SHURAFA

Palestinians in Gaza struggled to recover Tuesday from torrential rains that battered the enclave for days, flooding camps for the displaced, collapsing buildings already badly damaged in the two-year war and leaving at least 12 dead, including a 2-week-old baby.

The downpour, which dumped more than 9 inches of rain on parts of Gaza over the last week, turned dirt lanes to mud and flooded tents in camps for displaced people.

The Gaza Health Ministry, part of the Hamas-run government, said Tuesday the 2-week-old died of hypothermia as a result of the weather. The baby was brought to the hospital a few days ago and was transferred to intensive care but died Monday.

In Gaza City, a man died Tuesday after a home already damaged by Israeli strikes collapsed due to the heavy rainfall, according to Shifa Hospital.

Members of the al-Hosari family said 30 people lived in the building, but nine were home when it collapsed. The man who was killed was a worker who had come to fix the walls, they said. Five people were injured.