JEREUSALEM, March 29, 2007 (WAFA) - The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) agreed to a request from the Coastal Municipalities Water Utility (CMWU) to reduce the possibility of a potential spill over of the main wastewater reservoir, threatening the 15,000 residents of Lower Beit Lahiya and surrounding communities as well as important agricultural areas.

The reservoir, which contains about 2.5 million cubic metres of semi-treated wastewater, has already reached its capacity level and yet continues to receive an inflow of between 20,000 and 30,000 cubic metres per day. The additional pressure on the main reservoir is the result of the rupture of a smaller connected reservoir earlier in the week.

The ICRC is bringing in the equipment necessary to pump water out of the main reservoir and away from nearby houses. It hopes to begin the pumping next week as soon as the required pumps and piping have been installed.

"Unless a serious effort is made to alleviate the increased strain, the main reservoir could overflow in the coming days," explains Anthony Dalziel the head of the ICRC sub-delegation in Gaza. "If the situation is left untouched it could lead to a rupture in the main reservoir with a direct threat to the town of Beit Lahiya or other surrounding communities according to the location of the rupture."

The Beit Lahiya Waste Water reservoir serves a population of about 220,000 people in the municipalities of Jabalia, Beit Lahiya and Um al Nasir.

Five people were killed and 16 others injured, when the smaller reservoir containing about 120,000 cubic metres of semi-treated wastewater ruptured on Tuesday. As many as 250 houses were damaged or destroyed in the village of Um Al Nasir.

ICRC technical staff and PRCS disaster management teams were on the scene of the disaster within the first hours on March 27. That afternoon the PRCS set up a mobile health clinic on the scene. The ICRC also provided four tents and first aid dressing kits for Ministry of Health treatment centers.

Following discussions with municipal officials and other organizations involved in the relief effort, the ICRC has provided personal hygiene kits, food parcels and kitchen sets as well as bottles of propane gas with cooking and lighting attachments to 300 families. The ICRC is also providing 45 tents to displaced families to supplement those distributed by UNRWA.

The ICRC said it remains available to provide further support and assistance in response to the situation.

A.D (22.52P) (20.52GMT)