Environmental Assessment of the Gaza Strip following the escalation of hostilities in December 2008-January 2009

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1 Environmental Assessment of the Gaza Strip following the escalation of hostilities in December 2008-January 2009

2 UNEP Project Background UNEP Governing Council Decision 25/12, 2009 Deploy a mission of environmental experts to Gaza in co-ordination with other international organisations to assess the natural and environmental impacts on the Gaza Strip caused by the recent escalation of hostilities and violence; Carry out an economic evaluation of the rehabilitation and restoration of the environmental damage; Submit a report to the Secretary General.

3 Implementation of UNEP GC 25/12 Executive Director visited the region in April UNEP technical team spent 10 days in the Gaza Strip in May 2009 visiting impacted areas, collecting samples and talking to experts. Laboratory phase in June. This report presents the findings of the UNEP assessment.

4 Scope of the Assessment Key areas assessed: Solid waste management, including asbestos Water and sewage issues Land contamination, including loss of agricultural land (biodiversity) Economic assessment Institutional capacity for monitoring and information management

5 Environmental Impacts Directly Resulting from the Dec-Jan Hostilities Solid Wastes Large quantities of rubble and other demolition wastes generated No adequate facilities or systems to dispose of the same Safe handling of the rubble will be a challenge

6 Environmental Impacts Directly Resulting from the Dec-Jan Hostilities Land Contamination Breakage of bundwall of the sewage plant caused flooding of 55,000 sq meter area The area remains covered with dried sludge Needs clean up and due diligence assessment prior to farming again All bomb craters need to be treated as potentially contaminated and need due diligence assessment

7 Environmental Impacts Directly Resulting from the Dec-Jan Hostilities Hazardous Wastes Numerous locations are also contaminated by small quantities of hazardous wastes (hydrocarbons, asbestos etc) All demolished buildings and bomb craters are potentially contaminated Need due diligence during debris removal No facility to store or treat hazardous wastes in Gaza

8 Environmental Impacts Directly Resulting from the Dec-Jan Hostilities Orchards and Farmland Widespread destruction Erosion and desertification could follow Agricultural biodiversity may need to change as the salinity is on the rise in irrigation water

9 Environmental Impacts Predating the Dec-Jan Hostilities but impacted by it Water Resources Tragedy of commons in ground water management in the Gaza strip Salt water intrusion due to over abstraction Nitrate pollution from agricultural run off and sewage infiltration Aquifer at threat of total damage Infants at risk of nitrate poisoning

10 Schematic: Groundwater pollution in the Gaza Strip

11 Environmental Impacts Predating the Dec-Jan Hostilities but impacted by it Waste Management Systems for collection, transport, storage, treatment and disposal are inadequate Health care and other hazardous wastes getting mixed up Impacting public health and groundwater

12 Environmental Impacts Predating the Dec-Jan Hostilities but impacted by it Sea water unhealthy for recreation due to sewage pollution Eutrophication of the sea due to nutrient inflow Overfishing due to restrictions Marine and Coastal

13 Environmental Impacts Predating the Dec-Jan Hostilities but impacted by it Collection, storage, treatment and disposal are all inadequate Sewage Issues Sewage is polluting groundwater and the sea

14 Economic Assessment Environmental restoration costs directly linked to the recent escalation of hostilities are USD 44 million However, to recover environmental sustainability of the Gaza strip, more than 1.5 billion dollars will need to be invested over the next 20 years

15 Key Conclusions I The December 2008-January 2009 escalation of hostilities have resulted in environmental impacts These are widespread in area However there are technical solutions available to address these problems With support from international community and cooperation from Government of Israel, these can be handled

16 Key Conclusions II However, the Gaza strip is in the grip of a serious water crisis both in terms of quantity and quality If this degradation is allowed to continue, the environmental sustainability of the Gaza Strip may be endangered Urgent attention is needed from the international community

17 UNEPs Plans for Follow up Develop a document which outlines, in some sufficient detail, a comprehensive solution to the water resource crisis in the Gaza Strip. This work will involve the following partners (as a minimum) UNDP/UNRWA/FAO World Bank European Commission PWA/EQA/CWMU Work with UNSCO and the office of the Quartets Envoy to engage the key stakeholders (PA, GoI and Government of Egypt).

18 UNEPs Follow up Plans 2 Gather empirical evidence through a systematic epidemiological study regarding the nature of risk to infants in Gaza from nitrate poisoning This work will involve the following partners (as a minimum) UNDP/UNRWA/UNICEF/WHO PWA/EQA/CWMU/MOH Consider risk elimination measures including provision of safe water for infants

19 UNEPs Follow up Plans 3 UNEP is considering placing a senior technical expert full time based in Jerusalem to work with the UN Country Team This expert will work on Follow up on the recommendations of the UNEP Report Mainstreaming environment on all UN Projects Assist PA with capacity building efforts in various sectors Try to influence donor decisions to maximise support to environment