Since the start of Israel’s genocidal war on Gaza on October 7, 2023, nearly two million Palestinians have been displaced, moving to areas like Deir al-Balah and Mawasi Khan Younis, which were marked as “safe zones.” However, these areas have been relentlessly bombed, leaving residents without food, water, or shelter, while also facing severe environmental hazards such as waste and sewage piling up around their shelters.
For many, like Mahmoud Al-Haddad, whose home in Khan Younis was destroyed, the situation is dire. Living in a displacement camp near Al-Aqsa University, Al-Haddad describes the unbearable stench of overflowing sewage, which exacerbates health risks, especially for those with weakened immune systems. The lack of clean water and proper nutrition has led to the spread of diseases, making survival even harder.
This grim reality is widespread across Gaza’s displacement areas. In Mawasi Rafah, Ahmed Abu Sha’ira shares his struggles with sewage overflows, waste accumulation, and the presence of stray dogs. Abu Sha'ira, who fled his home in Tel Al-Sultan, now lives in a tent infested with rats and insects. The contaminated water has led to widespread illnesses, while his children walk barefoot because they cannot afford shoes.
Atif Jaber, Deputy Director-General of Gaza’s Environmental Protection Authority, confirms that the Israeli occupation has deliberately targeted infrastructure, including sewage and water systems, worsening the crisis. The war has prevented waste from being transported to landfills, causing a severe environmental disaster. Diseases such as cholera and dysentery are now spreading rapidly, and the lack of sanitation is taking a heavy toll on public health.
Atif Jaber, Deputy Director-General of Gaza’s Environmental Protection Authority, confirms that the Israeli occupation has deliberately targeted infrastructure, including sewage and water systems, worsening the crisis. The war has prevented waste from being transported to landfills, causing a severe environmental disaster. Diseases such as cholera and dysentery are now spreading rapidly, and the lack of sanitation is taking a heavy toll on public health.
In places like Deir al-Balah, where thousands of displaced people live, streets are flooded with sewage, a result of the occupation’s targeting of Gaza’s infrastructure. The environmental damage is compounded by the mix of regular and hazardous medical waste, posing a grave threat to both human health and the environment. With every day that passes, Gaza’s displaced face escalating suffering, trapped in a cycle of violence, deprivation, and environmental collapse.
