Heavy rains hit Gaza today causing renewed concern among Palestinians, many of whom are homeless and living in makeshift tents, following weeks of Israeli bombardment.

The onset of the rainy season and the possibility of flooding are raising fears that the densely populated enclave’s drainage system will be strained and diseases will spread.

At a United Nations shelter in Khan Younis, southern Gaza, the rain caused despair for displaced people who found their clothes drenched.

“We live in a concrete house and now we are in a tent», said Fayeza Shrourwhich sought safety in the south after Israel launched its military operation in response to an October 7 attack by Hamas gunmen who invaded southern Israel from Gaza.

“Tarpaulins, awning and wood will not withstand any flood… People are sleeping on the floor, what will they do? Where will they go?».

Winter is rainy and cold in Gaza and the enclave is often hit by floods.

Another displaced person from Gaza, Karim Mereis, said people in the shelters were praying for the rain to stop.

“These children, these women, these old people are praying to God not to rain,” he said. “If this happens it will be very difficult and words will not be able to describe our suffering».

The World Health Organization said last week that Gaza faces a growing risk of disease spreading as Israeli bombardment has strained the health system, limiting access to clean water and driving people to crowd into shelters.

Today, he expressed concern over the prospect of the rain causing flooding, straining the already damaged drainage system.

“We already have outbreaks of diarrheal diseases” said WHO spokeswoman Margaret Harris in Geneva.

According to her, more than 30,000 cases of diarrhea have been recorded in a period where the WHO would have expected 2,000 cases.

“The infrastructure damage is so great. There is a shortage of clean water. People crowd all together. This is one more reason why we are begging for a truce now“, he pointed out.

For his part, Ahmed Bairam, a spokesman for the Norwegian Refugee Council, said the start of the rainy season could mark “the hardest week in Gaza since the (military) escalation began.”

“Heavy rains will mean delays in the movement of people and rescue teams“, explained.

“It will become more difficult to rescue people trapped under the rubble or bury the dead, all amid incessant shelling and a fuel shortage disaster.».