Gaza Municipal Union warns of disaster as 700,000 tons of waste pile up in strip
The Union of Gaza Strip Municipalities warned Friday of the consequences of 700,000 tons of accumulated waste in random dumping sites, as municipalities are unable to provide even the minimum level of essential services due to severe shortages of fuel and equipment.
Alaa Al-Batta, the union’s deputy head, told Anadolu that municipalities are facing an “impossible equation” due to the massive destruction of infrastructure, fuel shortages, and the destruction of machinery and equipment during Israel’s genocide against Palestinians.
He said these combined factors have left municipalities unable to provide even basic services to residents and displaced people, despite a month having passed since the ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas, with no tangible improvement.
WASTE ACCUMULATION
The Palestinian official warned of a looming health and environmental disaster amid massive waste buildup across Gaza.
He said around 700,000 tons of waste are piling up in northern and southern areas of the strip, as Israel prevents access to central dumping sites located in border zones it controls under the ceasefire east of the so-called “yellow line.”
He noted that the waste accumulation has also led to the spread of mosquitoes and rodents and contamination of groundwater.
Al-Batta described Gaza’s fuel shortage, particularly for municipalities, as “the most dangerous and urgent crisis” at the moment.
WATER CRISIS
Regarding the water crisis, Al-Batta said it has reached unprecedented levels as Israel has destroyed more than 700 wells across Gaza during two years of genocide, representing 80-85% of all municipal wells.
He said the daily per capita water share had dropped from 90 liters before the genocide to just 10-15 liters today.
He added that groundwater and the environment are contaminated because sewage has leaked into the soil after the Israeli military deliberately targeted sewage networks during the two years of war.
“We are talking about near-total destruction of about 2 million linear meters of sewage networks, and municipalities do not have the equipment necessary to repair or maintain them,” he said.