Full coverage· Security· Updated
UNICEF Warns of Gaza Flooding and Disease After Israel Blocks Repairs
The United Nations Children's Fund, UNICEF, has accused Israel of blocking the import of essential equipment needed to repair a critical stormwater basin in Gaza City. The Sheikh Radwan basin is currently contaminated with sewage and at risk of overflowing following heavy rainfall, which could flood nearby streets and tent camps housing displaced families.
3 newsrooms · 3 languages · since
What happened
- 01UNICEF accused Israel of blocking the import of equipment to repair the sewage-contaminated Sheikh Radwan stormwater basin in Gaza City.
- 02COGAT rejected the $3 million repair plan, which UNICEF had spent a year coordinating, citing security concerns over dual-use materials.
- 03UNICEF warned that an overflow of the basin would flood streets and tent camps with toxic wastewater, displacing families and spreading disease.
- 04Heavy rains have already flooded displacement camps in Gaza, resulting in four deaths, including three children.
- 05The World Health Organization warned of significant infectious disease risks in Gaza due to flooding and poor sanitation.
- 06Local authorities attribute the destruction of water infrastructure and pumping vehicles to Israel's war against the terrorist organization Hamas.
UNICEF spokesperson James Elder stated that the agency had spent a year coordinating a $3 million repair plan with Israeli authorities and a US-backed board. However, COGAT, the Israeli military body responsible for humanitarian affairs in Gaza, recently rejected the project. According to Reuters, Israel cited security concerns regarding dual-use materials that could be diverted for military purposes.
Local authorities attribute the destruction of Gaza's water infrastructure and pumping vehicles to Israel's war against the terrorist organization Hamas. Heavy rains have already flooded displacement camps, causing four deaths, including three children. The World Health Organization has warned of significant communicable disease risks due to the flooding and poor sanitation across the Gaza Strip.
Summarized by baba from the reports of 3 newsrooms. Updated
Latest report: The Jerusalem Post. Read The Jerusalem Post’s originalThe coverage
3 newsrooms on this story
Who covered it
- LeftNone
- Centre1
- RightNone
- HarediNone
- Arab1
- Other1
How it broke
How the headlines differ
UNICEF Warns of Gaza Flooding and Disease After Israel Blocks Repairs
