Ruined Gaza homes offer little shelter from storm

GAZA CITY (AFP) -- Living by candlelight with no electricity and reliant on sandbags to stop their ruined homes flooding, Gazans who survived last year's war are now struggling with a brutal winter storm.

As millions across Palestine and Israel hunkered down for the worst storm of the winter, freezing rain and gale-force winds battered the Gaza Strip where more than 100,000 homes were destroyed or damaged during the 50-day conflict.

Wael al-Sheikh, 37, lost his home during an Israeli air strike and now lives with his two sons in a tent pitched among the ruins.

But with no access to electricity, it is impossible to fend off the cold.

Fearing that the winds of 80 kilometers (50 miles) per hour would simply blow their makeshift home away, they have sought refuge with relatives.

Imad Mutlaq's home was also largely destroyed in the July-August war and the wind whistles through the cracks in the walls.

"We have no electricity or heating," he told AFP, describing the first night of the storm as "difficult."

Thirty-year-old Mohammed Ziyad, father to two young sets of twins, is trying to put on a brave face.

During a previous storm, the ground floor of the building where they live flooded, but this time he said the family is well prepared.

"We have stocked up on milk and nappies in case we find ourselves stuck indoors." more

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