Under the weight of the siege and starvation imposed by the occupying authorities on the Gaza Strip, citizens are facing a serious environmental disaster in the form of sewage water flooding some streets.
اضافة اعلان
The crisis has worsened due to the shutdown of pumping stations following the closure of crossings by the occupation forces, halting fuel supplies, and cutting electricity, which threatens the health of citizens and warns of the spread of epidemics.
With the end of the first phase of the ceasefire agreement in early March 2025, the occupation has once again closed all crossings leading to Gaza to prevent the entry of humanitarian aid, in a move aimed at using starvation as a new weapon of war.
Epidemic Outbreak
Husni Mahna, the spokesperson for the Gaza Municipality, warned in his conversation with Anadolu Agency about the worsening situation, with dangerous environmental flooding, especially in low-lying areas, amid fears of epidemic outbreaks.
Mahna says, “The targeting of sewage stations, rainwater collection ponds, and main transmission lines by the occupation, alongside the fuel shortage needed to operate the generators, has led to a real disaster in the city.”
He confirms that the situation has “gone out of control, and wastewater is flooding the streets of the city, which is suffering from the effects of the war.”
Mahna also warns that this crisis "threatens an unprecedented spread of diseases, especially in densely populated neighborhoods, in addition to the spread of foul odors, insects, and rodents."
For the past 17 months, Gaza has been plunged into complete darkness as part of a series of punishments imposed by the occupation during the ongoing genocide, which has exacerbated the humanitarian crisis for the 2.4 million residents of the besieged strip.
During the genocide, the occupation army destroyed about 175,000 meters of sewage networks in the strip, according to the Gaza Municipality spokesperson.
The occupation army also destroyed about 88% of the infrastructure in the sector, including homes, vital facilities, and services.
The continued closure of crossings for 13 days has led to a severe shortage of fuel necessary to operate various municipal facilities, including water and sewage stations, further worsening and complicating the humanitarian situation.
Environmental Catastrophe
In light of this difficult reality, Mahna called for “international intervention to prevent a possible drowning in sewage water and serious health consequences that could directly affect residents and the groundwater, by providing the necessary equipment for maintenance operations.”
On October 7, 2024, the Energy and Natural Resources Authority stated that more than 68% of the medium and low voltage and transmission networks had sustained severe damage.
It pointed out that the genocide caused damage to about 830 kilometers of medium voltage and transmission networks and about 2,700 kilometers of low voltage networks, in addition to the destruction of over 2,105 electricity distribution transformers.
Heartbreaking Scene
Mohammad Barakat, a resident who lives with his family next to the “Sheikh Radwan Pond” designated for collecting rainwater in the northern part of Gaza City, talks about the daily suffering people endure due to the catastrophic environmental and health conditions.
He confirms that “the mixing of sewage water with rainwater has turned the area into a hotspot for diseases and health risks, making life unbearable there with the ongoing floods and deteriorating living conditions.”
Barakat told Anadolu Agency: “The scene is heartbreaking; we live amid this wastewater,” warning of "unexpected health risks if the situation remains the same."
The “Sheikh Radwan Pond” is typically used for collecting rainwater, but during the genocide, it was severely damaged by occupation shelling, leading to the infiltration of sewage water, turning it into an environmental and health hazard.
Mahna says, “The occupation targeted the Sheikh Radwan Pond multiple times during the war, causing a significant malfunction in its operation, while the diesel shortage exacerbated the crisis, leading to the mixing of rainwater with sewage.”
Risk to Residents
This incident led to water contamination, the spread of foul odors, insects, and rodents, creating a serious danger to the lives of nearby residents, according to Mahna.
He warned that “rainfall in the coming periods could cause sewage water to overflow, which may lead to the collapse of buildings surrounding the pond and flood the area with wastewater.”
He added that “the seepage of this water into the groundwater would lead to serious contamination of drinking water in the sector, posing a direct threat to public health and further exacerbating the environmental and humanitarian crisis.”
