GAZA: Amid the ruins of Gaza, where the ongoing Israeli war of annihilation has ravaged communities and infrastructure, the struggle for survival has taken a dire turn for families like Um Al-Abd’s.
At just 43 years old, Um Al-Abd clings tightly to her young child’s hand as they navigate past pools of sewage that gather near their makeshift tent in the south of Deir Al-Balah, in the central Gaza Strip.
Originally from Jabalia refugee camp in northern Gaza, Um Al-Abd fled during the continuous Israeli aggression, seeking refuge first in Rafah in the south, and now settling reluctantly in Deir Al-Balah. “There was nowhere else left to flee as the Israeli military intensified its ground offensive,” she recounts to Anadolu Agency, her voice weary from hardship.
Their tent stands precariously close to a desalination plant, a once hopeful sight now overshadowed by frequent sewage spills and towering piles of garbage.
“Living conditions here are unbearable,” Um Al-Abd laments, pointing to a stream of wastewater
flowing near their tent, a breeding ground for disease and environmental peril.
She restricts her children from leaving the tent except when absolutely necessary, fearing the infectious diseases that lurk in the sewage-contaminated waters and the heaps of garbage.
“Children here can’t move freely; the sewage levels are too high, and no authorities have addressed the problem,” she adds with palpable concern.
The humanitarian crisis in Deir Al-Balah is exacerbated by the presence of approximately 700,000 displaced individuals scattered across 150 shelters.
Ibrahim Al-Eila, 44, shares the plight of his family, emphasizing the recurring threat of sewage inundations and the menacing presence of insects and rodents.
“We fled from Rafah to these tents in Deir Al-Balah, where the sanitary conditions are appalling,” Ibrahim remarks, describing the constant sewage leaks and accumulating waste nearby. “It’s a danger to our children’s lives, spreading infectious diseases among us,” he adds solemnly.
Abu Mahmoud Sub
oh, formerly from Gaza City, fears for his children’s deteriorating health due to rampant infectious diseases triggered by sewage floods.
“Our young ones suffer from diarrhea, skin infections, and other waterborne illnesses,” he says, haunted by the lack of effective interventions to mitigate the crisis.
The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) has raised alarms about the catastrophic environmental and health risks across Gaza.
“More than 330,000 tons of waste are accumulating in densely populated areas throughout the Gaza Strip, posing catastrophic environmental and health risks,” UNRWA reported on its X account.
As international organizations struggle to deliver aid amidst ongoing conflict and blockade, families like Um Al-Abd’s, Ibrahim’s, and Abu Mahmoud’s endure each day with resilience amidst unspeakable conditions.
Their stories underscore a grim reality: Gaza’s displaced face not only the horrors of war but also the invisible threats of sewage, disease, and enviro
nmental decay, with little relief in sight.
Since the beginning of the Israeli aggression on October 7th last year, the death toll in Gaza has risen to 37,765, mostly comprising children and women.
The number of injuries has climbed to 86,429, with thousands still trapped under the rubble of destroyed buildings.
Source: Palestine news & Information Agency – WAFA