Written By Lisa Murimi
The Mediterranean coastline of Gaza is witnessing an alarming environmental crisis, with parts of its waters turning brown due to sewage contamination.Â
Satellite images analyzed by BBC Arabic reveal a significant sewage discharge off the coast of Deir al-Balah, exacerbating fears of a growing health emergency.
The crisis is linked to the collapse of Gaza’s wastewater management infrastructure, a situation worsened by intensive Israeli bombardments.
Displaced residents, now living in overcrowded camps, have resorted to redirecting their sewage into the sea, overwhelming the region’s sanitation systems.
Environmental experts have confirmed that untreated wastewater from these camps is flowing directly into the Mediterranean, creating a pollution area exceeding two square kilometers as of early August.
Health officials are deeply concerned, particularly after a 10-month-old baby in Gaza was paralyzed by polio, marking the first such case in 25 years.
The United Nations and the World Health Organization are urgently calling for ceasefires to allow for the vaccination of 600,000 children, but logistical challenges make this a daunting task.
The situation is dire, with reports of widespread waterborne diseases, including Hepatitis A, and fears of a potential cholera outbreak, further complicating the region’s already overwhelmed healthcare system.
