Gaza's Sanitation Crisis: A Growing Tragedy Amid Conflict

The ongoing conflict in Gaza has led to a severe sanitation crisis. Residents in Gaza City and Khan Younis face hardship as garbage piles up, leading to diseases and unbearable living conditions. The shortage of fuel, food, and medical supplies exacerbates the problem, and attempts to manage waste are overwhelmed.

Amid the rubble left by ongoing conflict, bulldozers strive to clear waste in Gaza, but resident frustration mounts as children sift through garbage on the streets, indicating a burgeoning sanitation crisis.

"We can't sleep, we can't eat, we can't drink, the smell is killing us," said Ahmed Shaloula, a displaced Palestinian from Gaza City now residing in Khan Younis. Since the conflict began between Israel and Hamas in October, Palestinians have faced constant crises, from Israeli airstrikes to food and water shortages.

The garbage buildup in the densely populated enclave has resulted in people suffering from diseases like scabies. Shaloula and others are urging local authorities to act, but after nine months of war, such calls seem implausible. The conflict has caused mass casualties and left Gaza's infrastructure in ruins.

Khan Younis, Gaza's second-largest city, faces severe waste management issues exacerbated by fuel shortages, according to Omar Matar, responsible for waste removal at the municipality. He warned of bad smells, pest proliferation, and contaminated water, aggravating the crisis.

Matar highlighted that the waste disposal site was inadequately designed, leading to waste liquid seeping into Gaza's main underground water source, further endangering the residents' health.

(With inputs from agencies.)