GAZA CITY, Gaza (Enmaeya News) — After 15 months of conflict, Gaza is facing a severe waste management crisis with catastrophic consequences for public health and the environment. The war has destroyed waste collection vehicles, medical waste treatment centers, and essential infrastructure, while the Israeli military has blocked access to landfills.

Previously generating 1,700 tons of waste daily, Gaza now has more than 225 temporary dumping sites across the strip, up from three main landfills. These makeshift dumps pose serious risks, including contamination of groundwater, degradation of agricultural land, and the spread of diseases due to pests and hazardous waste. Displaced populations, many living in makeshift shelters near waste piles, suffer from respiratory illnesses, infections, and lack access to clean water or sanitation.

Despite ceasefire agreements, relief efforts have been minimal, with cleanup operations covering only a fraction of the waste generated daily. Satellite imagery has revealed large waste dumps near refugee camps and educational institutions like Al-Aqsa University, which has been repurposed into overcrowded shelters. Local residents and workers report worsening conditions, including foul odors, disease outbreaks, and environmental degradation.

Municipal crews, unable to access official landfills, have been forced to dump waste in public areas, increasing pollution and the risk of long-term ecological damage. Without urgent international intervention and reconstruction, Gaza’s garbage crisis is expected to persist for years, further endangering already vulnerable communities.