Fuel Shortage: Environmental Disaster Looms in Gaza

Fuel Shortage: Environmental Disaster Looms in Gaza

The Palestinian government warned of an environmental disaster in Gaza due to the siege, as untreated sewage water is pumped into the sea, which increases the problem of pollution and its impact on the environmental situation and human health. 

Minister of Local Government, Dr. Mohammed Al-Farra said: "The municipalities in the Gaza Strip began to pump sewage water into the sea, after sewage treatment plants stopped working due to lack of fuel." 

He expected that the municipalities will officially announce next Thursday that they are out of fuel as a result of the tightening of the siege on Gaza, the demolition of tunnels on the borders with Egypt, and the prevention of the entry of the Egyptian diesel fuel to the Gaza Strip. 

He added: "All the countries of the Mediterranean are threatened by the pollution if the blockade continues." 

Farra pointed out that the epidemics and health crises will not be prevented by geographical borders, in reference to Israel. 

He appealed to international and humanitarian organizations to shoulder their responsibilities and exert pressure on Israel, to lift the siege on Gaza and to import necessary materials to the Strip. 

The Gaza Strip has been suffering from a tightened blockade since 2006. However, the siege has dramatically intensified two months ago after the dismissal of the Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi and the destruction of almost all tunnels between Gaza and Egypt by the Egyptian army.

ENDS

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