As the current round of Palestinian-Israeli conflict continues, the people of Gaza are forced to move southward, and Rafah, the southernmost city in the Gaza Strip, has become their last foothold. According to United Nations statistics in early February, Rafah, which originally had a population of only 250,000, now houses 1.5 million people. Rafah and its environs have become overcrowded, and with it, the deteriorating living conditions in the area.
Main station reporter Ahmed Zakut:We are now in a refugee camp in Rafah, in the southern Gaza Strip. In front of the camps, wastewater and solid waste accumulate in large quantities, leading to the spread of diseases and the breeding of pests, affecting the health and lives of these displaced people.
The camp currently hosts about 70,000 displaced people, spread across 150,000 tents. Due to the influx of people and the damage to the local infrastructure in Israeli airstrikes, living conditions have deteriorated rapidly, and the disposal of garbage has become a huge problem. Due to the lack of proper sewage facilities, residents have to build toilets at will, which leads to the spread of sewage everywhere and serious environmental pollution.
Displaced person Yasser Ammar:We are plagued by this cesspool. A few days ago, sewage flowed into our tent and my children contracted scabies, rashes, and infectious diseases.
Rafah's municipal facilities have all but ceased to function effectively to deal with the ubiquitous garbage and sewage. The daily life and physical and mental health of the local people have been greatly affected.
Displaced person Assad Attar:Because of the sewage and garbage here, our noses have failed. Mosquitoes also appeared, which were quite large. Flies also fly everywhere, and infectious diseases and diseases also spread. We call on the Mayor of Rafah to find solutions to reduce the negative impact of waste on the health of our children.
*: CCTV news client).