The Palestinian Environmental Quality Authority has revealed that 66% of Gaza’s population is grappling with waterborne diseases, including cholera, chronic diarrhea, and gastrointestinal illnesses, due to the spread of contaminated water.
So far, more than 26,000 Palestinians have lost lives in Israeli bombardment since October 7, when Hamas forces retaliated to decades-long occupational crimes committed by Israel.
In a press statement, as reported by Quds News Network, the authority highlighted the critical shortage of potable water and the closure of all water desalination plants as a result of the ongoing Israeli war, further exacerbating the suffering of Gaza’s residents.
According to the statement, the contaminated water is causing the proliferation of diseases such as cholera and chronic diarrhea.
The Environmental Quality Authority warned of the dangers posed by the Israeli airstrikes on sewage lines in the enclave, emphasizing that these actions are resulting in a health and environmental catastrophe.
Furthermore, the statement pointed out that Israel’s war on Gaza has uprooted approximately 50,000 trees and led to the destruction of agricultural lands, nurseries, and household gardens, contributing to increased desertification, loss of biodiversity, and a deterioration in soil quality.
The authority stressed that the Israeli aggression not only constitutes a humanitarian disaster but also contributes to the destruction of environmental components, including the accumulation of solid and medical waste, as well as the generation of carbon emissions.
The Environmental Quality Authority urged the global community to address the immense environmental challenges and take swift measures to preserve the environment and mitigate the environmental damage resulting from the Israeli aggression.
