Winter weather brings misery to Gaza shelters

WINTER’S first strong rainfall sent water cascading through parts of Gaza’s sprawling Muwasi tent camp as the territory struggles to cope with flooding and devastated infrastructure after two years of war.

- WAFAA SHURAFA

Displaced Palestinian families are enduring heavy rainfall inside flooded makeshift tents in Deir al-Balah, Gaza

Residents attempted to dig trenches to keep the water from flooding their tents, as intermittent rain that began on Friday dripped through tears in tarpaulins and makeshift shelters.

The bursts soaked families’ scant belongings. Strong winds can also topple tents and hamper attempts to gather scarce food and supplies.

Two weeks ago, Bassil Naggar bought a new tent on the black market for the equivalent of about £541, because the summer sun had worn his old tent thin.

Still, rainwater was leaking through on Saturday.