DaysofPal- More than 250,000 tons of garbage have accumulated across Gaza City, posing grave health and environmental risks as Israeli forces continue to block municipal access to landfill sites.
City officials warn that this situation has become a severe “environmental and health catastrophe,” compounded by ongoing water shortages and leaks from damaged sewage networks.
Asim Al-Nabeeh, spokesperson for the municipality, highlighted that the crisis is a direct result of two years of Israeli military operations that destroyed over 85 percent of the city’s heavy and medium equipment, leaving authorities unable to collect or process waste.
The mounting garbage has led to a surge in rodents and insects, further threatening public health.
The Israeli occupation forces have prevented crews from reaching Gaza’s main landfill in Juhor al-Dik, which is located east of the “Yellow Line”, the first withdrawal boundary outlined in the ceasefire agreement between Hamas and the Israeli occupation that came into effect on October 10.
This restriction means that municipal teams cannot dispose of waste properly, worsening the already dire situation.
Additionally, large volumes of untreated sewage are now leaking into city streets. During the conflict, Israeli attacks severely damaged Gaza’s sewage infrastructure, destroying more than 700,000 meters of pipelines, according to the Government Media Office.
City officials are calling for urgent international intervention to supply equipment, fuel, and access to restricted areas.
Without these resources, the risks of disease and epidemics will only grow. Even after the declared end of hostilities, Gaza’s residents continue to endure desperate humanitarian conditions due to the near-total collapse of infrastructure and public services.
Local estimates suggest that approximately 90 percent of Gaza’s civilian infrastructure has been destroyed, with damages totaling around $70 billion.
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