Gaza’s sewage system is in ruins, with over 190,000 cubic meters of wastewater flooding streets and neighbourhoods, warns Maher Salem, Director of Planning at Gaza Municipality. The Israeli blockade has prevented the entry of essential materials like pipes and cement, leaving 185,000 meters of sewage lines destroyed and 5,000 manholes clogged.  

Three of Gaza’s eight wastewater pumping stations are completely destroyed, while the rest are damaged. The Sheikh Radwan Pond, now holding 400,000 cubic meters of wastewater, is a health hazard, with stagnant water causing foul odours, insect infestations, and disease risks.  

Garbage collection is also crippled, with only three of 40 waste vehicles operational. Salem urges international pressure on Israel to lift the blockade, warning of a humanitarian catastrophe if action is delayed. Gaza’s two million residents face a growing public health crisis as the world looks on.