UNEP Report: Gaza Conflict’s Unprecedented Environmental Impacts Revealed
The environmental impacts of the ongoing war in Gaza are reaching unprecedented levels, as highlighted in a preliminary assessment released by the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) on June 18, 2024. The assessment reveals that the community in Gaza is facing a rapid increase in soil, water, and air pollution, posing risks of irreversible damage to its natural ecosystems.
Inger Andersen, the Executive Director of UNEP, emphasized the dual challenges faced by the people of Gaza, who are not only enduring the hardships of war but also grappling with severe environmental degradation. The damage to environmental management systems and pollution in Gaza is already taking a toll on the health, food security, and resilience of the population.
Decades of environmental degradation in Gaza, exacerbated by recurring conflicts, urbanization, high population density, political conditions, and vulnerability to climate change, have laid the groundwork for the current crisis. The preliminary assessment conducted by UNEP outlined several key findings:
1. The conflict has reversed some recent progress in environmental management, including advancements in water desalination, wastewater treatment facilities, solar power, and restoration efforts in the Wadi Gaza coastal wetland.
2. An estimated 39 million tonnes of debris have been generated by the conflict, significantly impacting the environment and posing health risks due to contamination with hazardous substances.
3. Water, sanitation, and hygiene systems in Gaza are severely compromised, with wastewater treatment plants shut down and sewage contaminating various water sources.
4. The solid waste management system is damaged, leading to the accumulation of rubbish and the burning of waste for fuel, further deteriorating air quality.
5. Munitions deployed in Gaza have contaminated soil and water sources with heavy metals and chemicals, posing long-term health risks.
6. Destruction of solar panels has introduced new risks of heavy metal leakage into the environment.
7. The tunnel system in Gaza, along with efforts to destroy them, may contribute to further environmental damage, including groundwater contamination.
The assessment, based on remote sensing data, consultations, and scientific literature, underscores the urgent need for a ceasefire to protect lives and initiate environmental recovery efforts. UNEP plans to conduct a field-based assessment once security conditions allow, in collaboration with local stakeholders, to develop remediation strategies and integrate environmental considerations into reconstruction plans.
The State of Palestine officially requested this assessment in December 2023, aligning with UNEP’s mandate to assist countries in addressing pollution in conflict-affected areas. The findings of the assessment underscore the critical importance of addressing environmental challenges in Gaza for the well-being of its people and the sustainability of the region.
For more information, please contact the News and Media Unit at the UN Environment Programme.