GAZA (Palestine Foundation Information Center) Three municipalities in the central Gaza Strip have declared their areas of influence as “disaster zones unfit for living” due to the destruction caused by the Israeli occupation to all aspects of life, necessitating urgent relief in all fields, including infrastructure, health, and education.
The municipalities of Al-Maghraqah, Al-Zahra, and Wadi Gaza said in a statement on Monday that the occupying army deliberately destroyed all buildings and homes of citizens within the jurisdiction of the three municipalities during the genocide, leading to the demolition of approximately thirteen thousand two hundred (13,200) housing units, leaving tens of thousands of citizens homeless.
They indicated that the occupying army systematically demolished 24 water wells and water tanks with a capacity exceeding 1,300 cubic meters, and destroyed water networks, resulting in a lack of water and forcing people to relocate.
According to the statement, the occupation army destroyed thousands of dunums of agricultural land and executed livestock and farms in the area, which was one of the most important sources supplying the local market with agricultural and livestock products.
The municipalities added that the occupation army destroyed the sewage networks and all three sewage pumps in their areas of influence.
They pointed out that the occupation forces worked to destroy all educational facilities, including schools, universities, and kindergartens, estimated at 28 educational institutions, depriving thousands of students of their right to education.
Additionally, it destroyed and razed all roads, estimated at more than 100 kilometers in length, along with electricity networks and internet lines, causing difficulties in communication and depriving people of freedom of movement and safe transit.
The municipalities called on international parties and institutions working in the fields of water, sewage, and roads to bring in maintenance equipment, heavy machinery, and generators to start repairing the damage and providing basic services to citizens.
They also demanded the allocation of temporary housing units (caravans) for displaced residents in the mentioned areas as an alternative and temporary shelter until reconstruction and the return of citizens to their homes, indicating a need for 11,500 temporary housing units to shelter more than 41,000 citizens.
The municipalities urged media and human rights organizations to document war crimes in order to pursue the occupation leaders in international forums, noting that the total losses within the jurisdiction of the three municipalities are estimated at around one billion dollars across all sectors.
The municipalities affirmed that responding to their call “is not just a moral and humanitarian obligation, but an international responsibility that requires concerted efforts to ensure shelter that preserves the dignity of those affected, providing them with security and stability in the harsh conditions they face.”
The statement read, “The area faces significant challenges, but at the same time, we must have real opportunities for urgent relief and reconstruction, by doubling the efforts made by the concerned parties, whether at the local or international level. These efforts represent an important step towards restoring normal life and enhancing stability in these areas.”
It emphasized that this mission is a shared responsibility between the local and international community, stating, “Its success depends on solidarity and continuous work to achieve a more sustainable and prosperous future for the residents of these three municipalities.”
