GAZA (Palestine Foundation Information Center)The Gaza Municipality issued an urgent distress call to the international community as well as relief and humanitarian organizations on Thursday, warning of an impending environmental and health catastrophe that threatens the city and its citizens.
According to the Gaza Municipality, the ongoing influx of people into the city that the Israeli war machine destroyed is putting a great deal of strain on the city’s deteriorating sewage systems, raising the possibility of their total collapse.
The city’s major sewage stations, particularly Baqqara stations No. “5”, Al-Samar “6A,” and Al-Zeitoun “7B,” which receive thousands of cubic meters of sewage water every day, have experienced significant damage to their equipment and infrastructure, making it impossible for them to function effectively, the municipality explained.
It noted that the stations are dependent on outdated and in poor condition generators, which raises the possibility that they will fail entirely due to the ongoing power outages.
The Municipality also warned of the possibility of sewage seeping into residential areas, which could pollute the environment and spread illnesses among locals, particularly the elderly and children.
It demanded immediate assistance in repairing the sewage stations’ damage and supplying the tools needed to run them, such as new generators, to guarantee their continuous operation in the face of frequent power outages. Additionally, it required that the damaged stations and equipment be maintained with the provision of spare parts.
The Municipality further noted that in addition to the destruction of the pumping lines on Rashid Street and Street No. 10, which further exacerbates the environmental catastrophe on the beach, there is extensive damage in the sewage stations west of the city, particularly Station No. 11, which receives 35,000 cubic meters of water every day.
The Gaza Municipality reiterated its appeal to the international community and relevant organizations to act right away to protect the city’s environment and public health and to offer the assistance required to repair the damaged infrastructure, such as treatment facilities and sewage networks.
It also warned that failing to act on this call would worsen the city’s humanitarian situation and cause the disaster to worsen.
