A heavy downpour in Gaza that followed six weeks of war has brought new worries and challenges for thousands of Palestinians who lost their homes, those who were forced to live in flimsy tents and others who fled south to escape Israeli military bombardments.
The start of the rainy season and the possibility of flooding have increased fears that the enclave’s damaged sewage system will be overwhelmed and spread disease.
“We are very worried. We already have epidemics of diarrheal diseases. We have already recorded well over 30,000 cases when we would normally expect 2,000 cases in the same period,” said Margaret Harris, spokesperson for the World Health Organization (WHO).
The Norwegian Refugee Council said the start of the rainy season could mark “the most difficult week in Gaza” since the conflict began.
Other aid agencies said their efforts to meet Palestinians’ daily needs prevented them from planning for possible flooding.
