Municipal authorities in Gaza warn that vital public services are on the brink of collapse as restrictions continue to block the entry of construction materials and heavy machinery into the enclave. The shortage has severely hampered efforts to clear debris, repair water and sewage networks, and restore essential infrastructure destroyed during the ongoing genocidal war.

Dr Yahya Al-Sarraj, the mayor of Gaza, said that municipalities urgently require 250 service vehicles and around 1,000 tonnes of cement to carry out critical repairs and rebuild damaged facilities. With most of the Strip’s infrastructure in ruins, he explained, municipal workers are doing their best under dire conditions but remain unable to meet even the most basic needs of residents.

Environmental and health concerns are mounting as waste accumulates, water systems deteriorate, and damaged networks remain unrepaired. Al-Sarraj noted that once equipment and materials are permitted entry, teams stand ready to work around the clock to restore services and improve living conditions. Until then, he said, the situation will continue to deteriorate, deepening the humanitarian crisis across the densely populated Strip.