Rights Group Petitions Israeli Supreme Court Over Sewage Crisis in Shuafat Camp

The Association for Civil Rights in Israel, representing four residents of the Shuafat refugee camp in Jerusalem, has filed a petition with the Israeli Supreme Court demanding immediate action to address a severe sewage crisis. The petition, filed in conjunction with the Ir Amim organization, targets the Israel Water Authority, the Ministry of Jerusalem Affairs and Heritage, the Hagihon company, and the Jerusalem Municipality.

Residents of Shuafat camp have been living for months without regular sewage services after the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) ceased its operations. UNRWA had been responsible for maintaining the camp's sewage network for decades. With UNRWA's withdrawal, the aging and dilapidated infrastructure has fallen into disrepair, leading to sewage flowing in the streets, open manholes, and the proliferation of pests and foul odors.

The deteriorating conditions have caused parts of roads to collapse, damaging infrastructure and hindering movement. Residents are forced to pay out-of-pocket for sewage removal and emergency repairs, with some undertaking repairs themselves. The petition highlights that these conditions pose a direct health and environmental risk, particularly to children, the elderly, and individuals with disabilities, and violate basic human dignity.

The petitioners argue that Shuafat camp falls within Jerusalem's municipal boundaries, and UNRWA's historical responsibility does not absolve Israeli authorities of their legal obligations now that the agency has stopped providing services. They are seeking an interim order from the court compelling the authorities to take immediate steps to remove the health hazards and requesting an urgent hearing date.

Shaher Alqam, a camp resident and neighborhood committee member, described the unbearable stench and the rampant presence of rats and cockroaches, emphasizing the disproportionate impact on vulnerable populations. Attorney Tal Hussein from the Association for Civil Rights stated that the authorities' refusal to assume responsibility and provide basic services contradicts their legal duties. She characterized the situation as a stark example of the authorities' treatment of tens of thousands of residents living behind the separation barrier, calling it "serious neglect, disregard, discrimination, and humiliation."