Among the piles of rubble from destroyed buildings in Gaza City, large piles of garbage have also risen — another sign of the difficulties Palestinians face as they return to homes under the Israel-Hamas ceasefire.
Associated Press footage this week showed hills of garbage lining streets in Gaza City, often next to partially collapsed buildings. Children picked through one pile, searching for food or anything of use for their families.
“It spreads disease among people and itching and coughing among children,” resident Abu Saad Saleh said. “People burn it and the smoke enters our homes. It has destroyed us. For God’s sake, remove this garbage from us.”
Much of Gaza City and surrounding areas of north Gaza were decimated by repeated Israeli offensives against Hamas during 15 months of war. Municipal services like garbage collection collapsed early on, leaving nowhere to dispose of waste except the streets.
With the start of a ceasefire, hundreds of thousands of Palestinians who fled south have returned to Gaza City. But they face a host of problems: Many have nowhere to live after homes were destroyed, water is in short supply, electricity near nonexistent. The garbage adds to their woes with the smell, flies and pollution as some people burn it.
On Monday, Rabah al-Kord burned a pile of trash in a garbage-filled lot next to his building, sending up a column of black smoke. He said he had no choice.
“When we throw out, mosquitoes and flies come to it, and all of this causes disease,” he said. “We burn to clean what is around us.”
