UN ESTIMATES NEARLY 40 MILLION TONS OF DEBRIS GENERATED IN GAZA

Wed 19 June 2024:

The UN Environment Program (UNEP) has released a report that highlights the “profound impact” of Israel’s war on the Gaza Strip.

According to the UN’s findings, an estimated 39 million tonnes of debris since October 7.

“The escalation of the conflict since 7 October, 2023 has clearly had a profound impact on people and the environment in Gaza,” it noted, emphasising that “intensive bombardment by Israel has led to unprecedented intensity of destruction in terms of infrastructure, productive assets and service delivery”.

It highlights that the Gaza community has been exposed to risks of soil, water and air pollution, causing irreversible damage to natural ecosystems.

The report that was prepared based on information obtained remotely and from UN’s activities on the field due to security conditions and access restrictions, noted that fieldwork will be conducted when security conditions permit.

It urged an immediate ceasefire to protect lives and to mitigate long-term environmental effects.

A new @UNEP assessment shows the environmental impacts of the war in Gaza are unprecedented. Water, soil and air pollution is rapidly growing, risking human health and food insecurity.

We urgently need a ceasefire to save lives & restore the environment.https://t.co/QE2Z7C2Hju pic.twitter.com/E9G0p0hKQK

— Inger Andersen (@andersen_inger) June 18, 2024