First strong winter rains soak Gaza’s makeshift shelters

Muhannad Abu Muharib, 27, reinforces his tent after it was damaged by a storm at a temporary camp on the beach in Deir al-Balah, in the central Gaza Strip (Abdel Kareem Hana/AP)

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.

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.