Israel's graffiti bomb shelters

A decorated bomb shelter sits in a playground at a school built from reinforced concrete in the Israeli town of Sderot, March 27, 2014.

More than 8,600 rockets fired from Gaza have landed in and around the Israeli city of Sderot since 2001, according to the local media center.

Sderot, Israel

The entrance to an underground bomb shelter is painted red near apartment blocks made from reinforced concrete, April 7, 2014.

With a population of around 25,000, the city lies just over a kilometer away from Gaza and is not fully protected by the Israeli Iron Dome defense system set up to intercept incoming missiles.

Sderot, Israel

A decorated bomb shelter stands in a playground at a school built from reinforced concrete, April 7, 2014.

When they hear a "code red" alarm warning of an approaching rocket, Sderot's residents have 15 seconds to seek shelter.

Sderot, Israel

A bomb shelter decorated as a serpent stretches across a public playground, April 7, 2014.

In an effort to brighten the landscape and ease the psychological stress, especially among children, many bomb shelters and concrete reinforcements are decorated with bright primary colors, graffiti, and idyllic landscapes at odds with the monolithic architecture of the town and the imminent threat of attack.

Sderot, Israel

A decorated concrete bomb shelter on the roadside, March 27, 2014.

Sderot, Israel

An air raid siren stands atop a decorated and reinforced concrete bunker at a school, March 28, 2014.

Sderot, Israel

A decorated bomb shelter sits in a school yard, April 8, 2014.

Sderot, Israel

A decorated bomb shelter sits in a playground at a school built from reinforced concrete, March 28, 2014.

Sderot, Israel

A decorated bomb shelter stands in a playground at a school built from reinforced concrete, April 8, 2014.

Sderot, Israel

A decorated bomb shelter stands beside a basketball court at a school built from reinforced concrete, March 27, 2014.

Sderot, Israel

A decorated bomb shelter sits by the roadside near apartment blocks made from reinforced concrete in the Israeli town of Sderot April 7, 2014.

Sderot, Israel

A bus stop decorated with graffiti and built from reinforced concrete doubles as bomb shelter, April 4, 2014.

Sderot, Israel

A bomb shelter sits in a parking lot at a college, March 28, 2014.

Sderot, Israel

A decorated blast wall is wedged under metal beams supporting a protective roof shelter at a school built from reinforced concrete, March 28, 2014.

Sderot, Israel

Blank blast-proof walls made from reinforced concrete, April 4, 2014.

Sderot, Israel

The entrance to an underground bomb shelter is painted green near apartment blocks made from reinforced concrete, April 8, 2014.

Sderot, Israel

An Israeli flag flies in a playground at a school built from reinforced concrete, March 28, 2014.