Gaza Authorities Begin Removing 370,000 Tons of Waste Accumulated During War

Gaza, MINA – Authorities in Gaza have begun removing approximately 370,000 metric tons of waste that accumulated in the Firas Market area in central Gaza City during months of Israel’s genocide against the Strip, PIC reported.

Amjad al-Shawa, director of the Palestinian Non-Governmental Organizations Network (PNGO), said Wednesday that the waste had piled up since the outbreak of the war more than two years ago, turning the site into a major public health and environmental hazard amid the near-total collapse of basic services.

Writing on Facebook, al-Shawa described the cleanup effort as a critical step toward reducing immediate health risks to residents.

He said the removal operation is being carried out with support from the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), in coordination with Gaza Municipality and civil society organizations. However, he did not specify where the waste will be transported.

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Before the war, garbage was transferred to the main landfill in the Juhr al-Dik area, located near the southern edge of Gaza City close to the security fence.

The cleanup comes as Gaza faces a deepening environmental crisis following the widespread destruction of infrastructure. Gaza Municipality previously warned that more than 500,000 cubic meters of waste have accumulated in streets and temporary dumping sites, while municipal crews remain unable to access the primary landfill in Juhr al-Dik.

Municipal officials have cautioned that the massive waste buildup creates ideal conditions for the spread of infectious diseases and the proliferation of rodents, mosquitoes, and flies, posing a direct threat to public health, particularly for children, the elderly, and immunocompromised residents.

The crisis has been compounded by restrictions on importing effective pest control materials, leaving only limited and less effective alternatives available inside the enclave.

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Before the war, Gaza produced roughly 2,000 tons of solid waste daily, according to pre-war data from the Water and Environmental Quality Authority. Organic waste accounted for 65 percent of the total, followed by plastic (16.1 percent), paper (8.1 percent), metals (3 percent), and other materials including sand, construction debris, and agricultural waste.

Environmental systems across Gaza have nearly collapsed after Israeli occupation forces destroyed water networks, sewage systems, central wastewater treatment plants, and most pumping stations. The continued flow of untreated wastewater has further intensified environmental contamination across the territory.[]

Mi’raj News Agency (MINA)

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