Gaza Pollution: Palestinians launch program to clean up harbor

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02:20

Pollution in Gaza is becoming a serious threat to public health. A group of Palestinians there have launched an initiative called 'It will come back to you', aiming to provide some protection for the harbor. Noor Harazeen reports.

On Tuesday, thousands of Palestinian young volunteers with the participation of local divers and fishermen, took part in a large human chain surrounding Gaza's sea port. The chain is part of several activities within the 'It will come back to you' initiative.

This event aims to remove waste from the sea, raise awareness about the crisis and protect Gaza's beaches from pollution.

MARWA ISA'AFEEN VOLUNTEER "We are excited to participate in this very important activity. Divers will dive into Gaza's sea and pick up some of the plastic waste. This way we will be able to show people how serious this problem is."

Gaza's Environment Authority issued a statement saying that it does not have the means or equipment to deal with an estimated 8,500 tones of plastic waste on Gazan beaches, and around 90 million liters of untreated sewage, poured daily into the Strip's Mediterranean waterfront.

Poor sewage and plastic treatment systems in Gaza have been overwhelmed by a rapidly growing population, Israeli restrictions imposed on imports, lack of funds and unsteady power supplies.

Israeli environmentalists say if Gaza's sewage problem - now visible from space- isn't fixed soon it could become a ticking time bomb for disease in the region.

DR. AHMED HELLIS PALESTINIAN ENVIRONMENTALIST "A lot of this waste and sewage is released directly to the shoreline region without any consideration for the environment, and we know it will come back to people via food and drinking water. We are now building desalination plants to produce drinking water which is very important for the people of Gaza."

Providing Gazans with the tools to clean up their own water requires Israel to lift the restrictions imposed on the entry of building materials, a solution- though essential- raises claims from its officials that Hamas could misuse the supplies for military purposes. Noor Harazeen, CGTN, Gaza.