Two years of escalating conflict have caused unprecedented levels of environmental damage in the Gaza Strip, damaging its soils, freshwater supplies and coastline, finds a new report from the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).
The Environmental Impact of the Conflict in the Gaza Strip, released today, says the recovery from some of that damage could take decades. The assessment comes a month after a panel of independent experts determined that parts of Gaza are in a state of famine.
“Ending the human suffering that has engulfed Gaza must be the first priority,” said Inger Andersen, UNEP’s Executive Director.
“Restoring freshwater systems and removing debris to enable humanitarian access and restore essential services are urgently required to save lives. The recovery of vegetation, freshwater ecosystems and soil will also be critical for food and water security, and to ensure a better future for Gaza’s people.”
Among the report’s key findings:
- Freshwater supplies in Gaza are severely limited, and much of what remains is polluted. The collapse of sewage treatment infrastructure, the destruction of piped systems and the use of cesspits for sanitation have likely increased contamination of the aquifer that supplies much of Gaza with water. Marine and coastal areas are also likely contaminated, although testing is not currently possible.
- The water crisis has contributed to a surge in infectious diseases, including cases of acute watery diarrhoea (which has increased 36-fold) and acute jaundice syndrome, indicative of hepatitis A (which has increased 384-fold).
- Much of Gaza’s vegetation has been destroyed. Since 2023, the enclave has lost 97 per cent of its tree crops, 95 per cent of its shrubland and 82 per cent of its annual crops. Food production at scale is not possible. That comes as over 500,000 people in Gaza are facing famine conditions, with about 1 million others in a food emergency.
- Some 78 per cent of Gaza’s estimated 250,000 buildings have been damaged or destroyed. This has generated 61 million tonnes of debris – about as much as 15 Great Pyramids of Giza or 25 Eiffel Towers by volume. About 15 per cent of this debris could be at relatively high risk of contamination with asbestos, industrial waste, or heavy metals if waste streams are not effectively segregated early on.
- The loss of vegetation and compaction by military activity have affected soil structure and reduced its ability to absorb water, increasing runoff and flood risks, and reducing groundwater recharge.
The assessment includes 30 recommendations for reversing the damage to Gaza’s environment. They include the rapid reconstruction of water and sewage infrastructure, a systemic testing of Gaza’s soil for contamination, the removal – and to the extent possible recycling – of debris and the safe disposal of munitions. The assessment says Gaza’s environmental recovery will hinge on careful, inclusive and science-based planning.
The report was done at the request of the State of Palestine. It marks the second time since October 2023 that UNEP has conducted an environmental assessment of conflict-related damage in Gaza.
By almost all measures, the territory’s environment has deteriorated dramatically since the last assessment in June 2024. For example, the amount of debris has increased 57 per cent and is now 20 times greater than the total debris generated by all conflicts in Gaza since 2008.
“The situation is going from bad to worse,” said Andersen. “If this continues, it will leave a legacy of environmental destruction that could affect the health and well-being of generations of Gaza residents.”
Due to security constraints, UNEP staff were not able to travel to Gaza. The assessment was carried out through a combination of remote sensing, including satellite imagery analysis, and field-based observations by other UN agencies.
The report is part of a broader UNEP effort to help nations deal with the environmental fallout of disasters and conflicts. Since 1999, UNEP has supported more than 40 crisis-affected countries.
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