Palestinian International Organization for Peace and Human Rights

14 April 2025

What happened?

A report dated 14 April 2025 examined the worsening crisis in waste collection and disposal across the Gaza Strip and the related deterioration of hygiene conditions in residential and displacement areas.

Impact on civilians

The risk of infection increases as rubbish builds up near tents and homes, cleaning supplies run short and waste-collection vehicles stop operating.

Protection of Healthcare

Medical units and healthcare workers must be respected and protected so they can carry out their humanitarian functions during armed conflict. The right to health also entails access to treatment, medication and preventive care without discrimination.

What is needed to protect residents?

These developments require careful monitoring of the worsening waste crisis and its impact on displaced families, providing information to affected families and ensuring access to medical care, humanitarian relief or remedies appropriate to the harm suffered. Established facts must be distinguished from legal assessments that require investigation by competent authorities.

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