Gaza Municipalities warn of imminent services collapse
GAZA, June 18 (YPA) – The Union of Municipalities in the Gaza Strip on Thursday warned of an impending humanitarian, health, and environmental crisis as essential municipal services continue to deteriorate across the Gaza Strip.
In a statement, the union said water supply, sanitation, and waste management systems are nearing collapse due to ongoing shortages of industrial fuel, diesel, spare parts, vehicle tires, pumps, and other equipment needed to operate and maintain critical infrastructure.
The union described the lack of industrial oil as the most urgent challenge, noting that power generators, water wells, wastewater treatment facilities, and municipal vehicles depend heavily on it.
It warned that the depletion of these supplies could force key services to shut down, even if limited quantities of fuel become available.
According to the union, municipalities operate dozens of wells and facilities daily to provide water for household and drinking purposes, while wastewater systems process large volumes of sewage to prevent flooding in residential areas.
Waste collection services also continue under increasingly difficult conditions, but shortages of fuel and maintenance supplies threaten to halt operations entirely, raising concerns over the spread of disease and environmental contamination.
The union warned that the crisis could lead to the complete breakdown of basic municipal services, thereby worsening living conditions for more than two million residents in Gaza.
It called for the immediate entry of fuel, industrial oils, spare parts, and maintenance equipment, while urging the United Nations and international humanitarian organizations to intervene to prevent the collapse of water, sanitation, and waste management services.
The union also appealed for the reopening of crossings to allow the regular flow of essential supplies and called for sustained international support to rehabilitate Gaza’s municipal infrastructure, warning that further delays could trigger a large-scale humanitarian and environmental disaster.