Gaza City initiates cleanup project to clear path for economic recovery

GAZA - Work has begun to remove hundreds of thousands of cubic meters of accumulated waste from the Firas Market area in central Gaza City, local authorities said on Wednesday, in a move aimed at easing environmental pressures and reviving business activities.

In a press statement, the Gaza municipality said the project involves transferring about 350,000 cubic meters of waste from a temporary landfill at Firas Market to an alternative designated site in the southern part of the city.

The operation is being carried out in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme, according to the municipality.

It described the current operation as a temporary solution until work crews can access the main landfill in the Juhr al-Dik area of the central Gaza Strip, which is equipped to safely handle waste from Gaza City and surrounding communities.

"This is the first step toward removing waste from all populated areas, as soon as access is granted to the main landfills that existed before the war," the municipality said in its statement.

Yahya al-Sarraj, mayor of Gaza, told Xinhua that the current transfer process could take at least six months to complete, citing the large volume of accumulated waste.

"The continued piling up of garbage has created serious environmental and health challenges for residents," al-Sarraj said, adding that facilitating access to proper waste management facilities remains essential to preventing further deterioration.

Husni Muhanna, spokesperson for the Gaza municipality, warned that thousands of tons of waste remain scattered in streets and temporary dumping sites throughout the city.

"The proliferation of flies, mosquitoes and rodents increases the risk of disease outbreaks," Muhanna told Xinhua, saying that restrictions on crossings by Israel have limited municipalities' ability to import necessary equipment and machinery for waste management.

Alaa al-Batta, deputy head of the Union of Municipalities in the Gaza Strip, said that approximately 700,000 tons of waste are currently accumulated across the territory.

The buildup has led to the re-emergence of informal dumping sites and raised concerns about potential groundwater contamination, al-Batta said.

Amjad al-Shawa, director of the NGO Network in Gaza, described the start of waste removal at Firas Market as a positive development.

"The step offers an opportunity to improve the local environment after months of suffering from insects and diseases linked to garbage," al-Shawa told Xinhua.

He said that, although temporary, the measure provides residents with some relief amid broader challenges with basic services in the strip.

Local residents also voiced support for the initiative. Ibrahim Nejim, who lives in the al-Samar neighborhood near the market, told Xinhua the start of waste removal was a long-awaited move.

"The air has become noticeably cleaner compared with previous months, when foul odors and insects were widespread," Nejim said.

He recalled that before the latest round of conflict between Hamas and Israel, Firas Market was a major commercial hub and social gathering spot. However, it has since become an area plagued by health hazards due to the accumulation of waste.

Hassan Khalil, a former shop owner in the market, expressed hope that clearing the waste would pave the way for a gradual revival of commercial activity.

"Firas Market was once a destination for residents and visitors interested in daily life in Gaza," Khalil told Xinhua. "We hope that restoring cleanliness will help bring back economic and cultural vitality to the area."