NAIROBI, September 14, 2009 (WAFA)- The underground water supplies, upon which 1.5 million Palestinians depend for agriculture and consumption, are in danger of collapse as a result of years of over-use and contamination that have been exacerbated by the recent Israeli military operation, the UN environment agency warned.
The warning is contained in a report released yesterday by the UN Environment Program (UNEP) on the environmental condition of the Gaza Strip following the hostilities.
The report said, 'Unless the trend is reversed now, damage could take centuries to reverse. Since the aquifer is a continuum with Egypt and Israel, any such action must be coordinated with these countries.'
The report pointed to increase salinity from salt water intrusion caused by over abstraction of the ground water as a key concern, alongside pollution from sewage and agricultural run off.
Pollution levels are such that infants in the Gaza Strip are at risk from nitrate poisoning, UNEP estimates that well over 1.5 billion US dollars may be needed over 20 years to restore the aquifer back to health including the establishment of desalination plants to take pressure off the underground water supplies.
The report, requested in February 2009 by UNEP's Governing Council-- the annual gathering of environment ministers – examines the direct impact of the recent conflict and its contribution to existing and persistent environmental problems.
UNEP estimates that well over US$1.5 billion may be needed over 20 years to restore the aquifer back to health, including the establishment of desalination plants to take pressure off the underground water supplies.
These are among more than twenty recommendations made in the Environmental Assessment of the Gaza Strip: following the escalation of hostilities in December 2008-January 2009.
The report also assesses the likely economic costs of the hostilities and recommends levels of investment needed to secure rehabilitation, recovery and the longer term sustainability of the Gaza Strip.
