ISRAELI OCCUPIED GAZA, 17 May. - (ANA) - Mounting waste and limited access to sanitation sites are deepening health risks for families across Gaza, as humanitarian workers warn that overcrowded dumping areas and worsening living conditions threaten vulnerable communities.

 

Ramiz Alakbarov, UN’s top aid official in Occupied Palestinian Territory visited a dumping site in Gaza on Tuesday that continues receiving waste despite already exceeding capacity.

 

This comes after Israeli authorities denied access to the Strip’s two landfills near areas where Israeli troops remain deployed.

 

 

 

 

Waste accumulating near shelters and residential areas is increasing the risk of disease, especially for displaced families living in overcrowded conditions.

 

In Khan Younis, Mr. Alakbarov observed teams spraying pesticides and clearing rubble at an school-turned shelter to reduce the spread of insects and rodents.

 

Aid workers stressed that severe shortages of equipment and supplies are limiting efforts to contain growing public health threats.

 

During his visit, Mr. Alakbarov also met local farmers, women-led organizations and children participating in UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF)-led initiatives to strengthen access to food, and recovery and resilience amid the ongoing humanitarian crisis.   - (ANA) - 

 

AB/ANA/17 May 2026 - - -