PHOTOS: Floods hit Gaza as war-hit infrastructure struggles

By Activestills November 28, 2014 | Edit

Hard hit during the summer’s war, civilian infrastructure is having a hard time coping with heavy rains.

Photos and reporting: Basel Yazouri/Activestills.org

The latest storm to hit the eastern Mediterranean region flooded large areas of Gaza City this week. The Al-Nafeq neighborhood, one of the lowest areas of Gaza City, suffered from severe flooding, exacerbated by the damage Gaza’s civilian infrastructure sustained during the war with Israel this past summer.

Entire streets were flooded with as much as 1.5 meters of water. A number of people, primarily the elderly and children, were rescued from the hardest-hit areas by emergency responders.

The homes in the neighborhood, many of which haven’t yet been repaired since the war, are now sustaining water damage. A large number of residents, having only returned to their homes in recent weeks since the war, were forced to take their belongings and leave once again.

Residents of Al-Nafaq in high waters flooding the neighborhood, Gaza City, November 27, 2014. Basel Yazouri/Activestills.org

Residents of Al-Nafaq in high waters flooding the neighborhood, Gaza City, November 27, 2014. Basel Yazouri/Activestills.org

Residents of Al-Nafaq in high waters flooding the neighborhood, Gaza City, November 27, 2014. Basel Yazouri/Activestills.org

Residents of Al-Nafaq in high waters flooding the neighborhood, Gaza City, November 27, 2014. Basel Yazouri/Activestills.org

Residents of Al-Nafaq in high waters flooding the neighborhood, Gaza City, November 27, 2014. Basel Yazouri/Activestills.org

Residents of Al-Nafaq in high waters flooding the neighborhood, Gaza City, November 27, 2014. Basel Yazouri/Activestills.org

Residents of Al-Nafaq in high waters flooding the neighborhood, Gaza City, November 27, 2014. Basel Yazouri/Activestills.org

Residents of Al-Nafaq in high waters flooding the neighborhood, Gaza City, November 27, 2014. Basel Yazouri/Activestills.org

Residents of Al-Nafaq in high waters flooding the neighborhood, Gaza City, November 27, 2014. Basel Yazouri/Activestills.org

Residents of Al-Nafaq in high waters flooding the neighborhood, Gaza City, November 27, 2014. Basel Yazouri/Activestills.org

Residents of Al-Nafaq in high waters flooding the neighborhood, Gaza City, November 27, 2014. Basel Yazouri/Activestills.org

Residents of Al-Nafaq in high waters flooding the neighborhood, Gaza City, November 27, 2014. Basel Yazouri/Activestills.org

Residents of Al-Nafaq in high waters flooding the neighborhood, Gaza City, November 27, 2014. Basel Yazouri/Activestills.org

Residents of Al-Nafaq in high waters flooding the neighborhood, Gaza City, November 27, 2014. Basel Yazouri/Activestills.org

Activestills is a collective of Israeli, Palestinian, and international photographers, united by a conviction that photography is a vehicle for political and social change. We believe in the power of images to shape public attitudes and to raise awareness on issues that are generally absent from public discourse. We view ourselves as part of the struggle against all forms of oppression, racism, and violations of the basic right to freedom. Our images are frequently published by many leading human rights, development, and advocacy agencies, as well as by alternative and leading news media. To stay updated on our latest images, like Activestills on Facebook or visit our Flickr photostream.

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