BRUSSELS, March 30, 2007 (WAFA) - The European Commission's Humanitarian Aid department, under the responsibility of Commissioner Louis Michel, has responded quickly to the sewage plant tragedy in Gaza.

The Commission said in a press release that €600,000 is being been provided for emergency works to consolidate the embankments of the main sewage lake which are also in danger of collapse. 50,000 people in the vicinity are at risk.

On Tuesday (27 March), breaches developed at the waste water plant in Beit Lahia, Gaza, sending a flood of effluent into the nearby Bedouin village of Um al Nasser. Five people were killed and 19 injured in this disaster with at least 4,000 local residents directly affected.

Around 100 houses were completely destroyed and 250 partially damaged. The floods bring an increased threat of water and food-borne diseases. The Commission has reacted promptly to help prevent an even worse disaster. The project will be implemented by both UNICEF and an international NGO.

A.D (22:00P) (19:00GMT)