For years now the southern Israeli town of Sderot has been the target of almost daily missile attacks launched from Gaza. Residents risk their life each time a Qassam rockets starts falling from the sky.

As the sirens wail yet again, and people rush for cover – they’ve less than thirty seconds to get to safety. They’ve been doing it for six years now.

Over this time more than 4,500 rockets have been launched from Gaza, just one mile away. This year alone 970 have rained down.
On Wednesday the Sderot’s mayor quit as the latest salvo of 18 hit.

The Israeli town is trying to cope with living under siege. For instance, its bus stops also double up as a bomb shelters. Their walls are made of reinforced concrete and there is a small place inside where people can rush to.

Even children there know to stay calm when the sirens sound and they know where to run and hide when a rocket falls.

In between the moments of madness life in Sderot is deadly quiet – people are afraid to put on the radio or television because they could miss the moment a siren goes.