Portal de Periódicos da CAPES

The Gaza Strip: politics and environment

2009; UWA Publishing; Volume: 13; Issue: 1 Linguagem: Inglês

10.2166/wp.2009.061

1996-9759

Greg Barrett, Margaret Wallace,

Water resources management and optimization

Research Article| January 14 2011 The Gaza Strip: politics and environment Basem Shomar Basem Shomar 1Institute of Earth Sciences, University of Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 236, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany Fax: +49 6221 545 228; E-mail: basem.shomar@geow.uni-heidelberg.de Search for other works by this author on: This Site PubMed Google Scholar Water Policy (2011) 13 (1): 28–37. https://doi.org/10.2166/wp.2009.061 Article history Received: May 02 2008 Accepted: July 21 2009 Views Icon Views Article contents Figures & tables Video Audio Supplementary Data Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn MailTo Tools Icon Tools Cite Icon Cite Permissions Search Site Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All ContentAll JournalsThis Journal Search Advanced Search Citation Basem Shomar; The Gaza Strip: politics and environment. Water Policy 1 February 2011; 13 (1): 28–37. doi: https://doi.org/10.2166/wp.2009.061 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Reference Manager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex In a region where politics is part of the vocabulary of daily life, this study reveals the environment as a victim of politics in the Gaza Strip. The environmental crisis in Gaza continues to worsen as the groundwater becomes increasingly polluted and the political situation delays hope of "resting" the Gaza aquifer and finding solutions for proper disposal of sewage and solid waste. Wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) have been destroyed more than once as a result of the turbulent political situation. The Beit Lahia wastewater treatment plant flooded and killed several people in addition to causing casualties and displacing thousands of people, besides destroying homes and killing animals. The closure of the Gaza Strip led to a total paralysis of the economic sector. People's diets were seriously affected. The effects on the industrial sector were not limited only to economic dimensions but affected the environment as well. In mid-2007 alone, more than 70% of the industrial sector was closed and the environmental indicators showed around a 70% decrease in the industrial waste production compared to the previous six years. However, the pollution load was increasing due to the absence of technologies and wastewater treatment facilities. Despite all the complicated circumstances in the Gaza Strip, the population growth rate is the highest in the world which means more needs, further depletion of natural resources, and more waste and pollution. Environment, Gaza, Politics, Pollution This content is only available as a PDF. © IWA Publishing 2011 You do not currently have access to this content.