Gaza: The Union of Gaza Strip Municipalities has issued a stark warning about an impending humanitarian, health, and environmental disaster as essential municipal services in Gaza teeter on the brink of collapse.
According to Anadolu Agency, the deterioration of water, sewage, and waste-management services is primarily due to Israeli restrictions on the import of industrial oils, diesel, spare parts, tires, pumps, and other critical equipment necessary for the operation and maintenance of vital facilities. The union emphasized that the shortage of industrial oils poses the most significant threat. These oils are crucial for the functioning of generators, water wells, sewage stations, and municipal machinery, and their depletion could halt operations even if limited diesel supplies are available.
Municipalities and water authorities in Gaza are responsible for operating numerous wells and stations, ensuring the provision of over 140,000 cubic meters of water daily for domestic and drinking purposes. Additionally, around 60,000 cubic meters of sewage are pumped into the sea each day to prevent it from overflowing into residential areas. However, continued shortages of fuel and spare parts threaten to halt waste collection and transport operations, which currently manage over 3,000 cubic meters of waste daily. The union warned that such a halt would lead to waste accumulation in residential zones, raising the risk of disease, epidemics, insect infestations, and rodent problems.
The potential collapse of the municipal services system poses a severe threat to public health and would further deteriorate conditions for more than 2 million people living in the Gaza Strip. The union holds the Israeli occupiers fully responsible for the situation and its humanitarian and environmental repercussions. The statement stressed that "time is running out," cautioning that further delays in supplying operational materials could trigger a widespread humanitarian and environmental crisis.
Since October 2023, Israeli attacks have resulted in nearly 73,000 Palestinian deaths and over 173,000 injuries, predominantly affecting women and children, according to Palestinian statistics. Despite Hamas' compliance with the initial phase of a ceasefire agreement, Israel has yet to fulfill its commitments, and negotiations on the second phase remain stagnant. The statement also highlighted Israel's prevention of the entry of agreed quantities of food, medicine, medical supplies, shelter materials, and prefabricated housing into Gaza, where approximately 2.4 million people, including 1.5 million displaced residents, are living in catastrophic conditions.