More than 330,000 tons of waste have accumulated in or near populated areas across Gaza as of Sunday, the United Nations’ relief agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) said on Thursday.
The waste poses “catastrophic environmental (and) health risks,” UNRWA said. “Children rummage through trash daily.”
The UN agency also reiterated its call for a ceasefire, saying it is “crucial to restore humane living conditions” in the Palestinian enclave.
Some context: UNRWA’s statement comes a day after the UN’s relief chief warned that more than a million Palestinians could face starvation by next month due to the war in Gaza and as a ceasefire proposal stutters, with nether Israel or Hamas yet publicly committing to the plan.
