The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has launched a major operation to remove a huge wartime waste dump in Gaza City, a crisis created after access to the main landfill was cut off during the conflict. The towering pile of garbage, which has grown over a year, poses serious health and environmental risks to nearly two million Palestinians living in the densely populated city.
The waste, estimated at over 300,000 cubic metres, has covered Gaza’s historic Fras Market, a once-bustling hub. Blocked access to the primary landfill in Juhr al-Dik left city authorities no choice but to leave the garbage piled up, allowing rotting waste to release harmful gases and attract disease-carrying pests.
UNDP launches urgent cleanup in Gaza City as massive wartime waste pile threatens health and environment. Image:Aljazeera
The cleanup, which began in February 2026, involves moving the waste to a temporary site in Abu Jarad designed to safely hold the garbage while reducing immediate health dangers. Heavy machinery is being used, and the operation is expected to take several months.
Residents have welcomed the initiative, calling the mound of trash a “symbol of war” that has made daily life dangerous. UNDP, alongside Gaza municipal authorities, is working to ensure the cleanup is done safely and efficiently, backed by funding from the European Union and humanitarian partners.
Gaza’s broader waste management system faces long-term challenges, with both main landfills remaining largely inaccessible since the conflict. Temporary dumps across the city continue to create risks, highlighting the urgent need for sustainable sanitation solutions.
The cleanup is not just about removing trash , it’s about protecting health, improving the environment, and giving residents hope for a safer daily life in a city still recovering from conflict.
