بيان عاجل صادر عن اتحاد بلديات قطاع غزة

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Urgent Statement from the Union of Municipalities of the Gaza Strip

Gaza Strip Faces Unprecedented Catastrophe – Municipalities Urgently Appeal for Essential Supplies

As the humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip deepens due to the ongoing Israeli war of extermination, now in its 15th month, the Union of Municipalities of the Gaza Strip confirms that municipalities are unable to respond effectively due to a severe shortage of essential equipment and resources. The massive destruction of infrastructure, along with the collapse of critical services in environmental, health, and municipal sectors, necessitates an urgent international response to provide municipalities with the necessary supplies to serve residents and mitigate the worsening crisis.

Following an emergency meeting held in Gaza, the Union of Municipalities urgently calls for the immediate provision of the following:

·       Heavy machinery and equipment to clear approximately 55 million tons of rubble scattered across all governorates of the Gaza Strip. This debris obstructs efforts to restore life in the city and rehabilitate public facilities and blocked roads.

·       Construction materials to enable municipalities to repair infrastructure and restore essential public services.

·       Spare parts for municipal vehicles, machinery, and equipment, along with various oils, to revive the few remaining operational municipal machines, which are in poor condition and require continuous and costly maintenance.

·       More than 500 computers, as well as electronic components and servers, to rebuild municipal digital networks and work systems that have been completely destroyed.

·       Solar energy systems, generators, and batteries to mitigate the electricity crisis caused by the destruction of the power grid, which has had a catastrophic impact on the operation of water and sewage facilities.

·       Essential maintenance materials, primarily water and sewage pipes of various diameters (4, 6, 8, and 10 inches), to rehabilitate damaged networks, prevent sewage leaks into streets, and address severe water shortages caused by infrastructure destruction.

The Gaza Strip is experiencing an unprecedented health and environmental disaster due to the large-scale destruction of infrastructure and the worsening humanitarian crisis. Raw sewage is flooding low-lying areas and seeping into streets and homes, endangering public health by increasing the risk of disease outbreaks. Additionally, 360,000 tons of accumulated waste pose a severe health hazard, as waste collection operations have ceased due to the Israeli destruction of municipal equipment, fuel shortages, and restricted access to landfills.

Municipalities in the Gaza Strip are operating under near-total resource depletion, making extraordinary efforts despite immense risks and challenges. Immediate international intervention is required to deliver essential supplies and equipment to municipalities, allowing them to restore critical services and prevent further deterioration.

We urgently call on international organizations, relief agencies, humanitarian institutions, and countries sponsoring the ceasefire agreement in Gaza to intervene immediately to save over two million Palestinians facing an unprecedented humanitarian, environmental, and health catastrophe that may soon become uncontrollable.

Union of Municipalities of the Gaza Strip

Tuesday, February 27, 2025