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Posted by Abdulwahid
- Feb 12, 2026, 02:08 AMThe United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has begun clearing a massive wartime garbage dump that has overtaken one of Gaza City's oldest commercial centers. The waste mound swallowed large parts of the historic Fras Market, once a vibrant hub of trade and daily activity. The cleanup effort marks a significant step toward restoring the area and reducing serious environmental and public health risks.
Alessandro Mrakic, head of the UNDP Gaza Office, confirmed that operations started on Wednesday. Trucks and bulldozers were deployed to remove the enormous pile of solid waste that accumulated during the conflict. The dump has grown into a towering heap, severely affecting nearby residents and businesses.
According to Mrakic, the garbage mound measures more than 300,000 cubic meters in volume and rises about 13 meters high. The waste built up after municipal workers were unable to access Gaza's primary landfill in Juhr Al-Dik when the war began in October 2023. With normal disposal routes cut off, waste continued to accumulate inside the city.
The Juhr Al-Dik landfill area, located near the Israeli border, is now fully under Israeli control. This has prevented local authorities from resuming regular waste management operations. As a result, emergency dumping sites were created, including the one that overwhelmed Fras Market.
Over the next six months, UNDP plans to relocate the waste to a newly prepared temporary site in the Abu Jarad area, south of Gaza City. The new location has been developed according to environmental safety standards. It spans 75,000 square meters and will also serve as a center for daily waste collection.
The cleanup project is funded by the Humanitarian Fund and the European Union's Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations. Officials say the initiative aims not only to clear the waste but also to prevent further environmental damage and protect public health in the densely populated area.
While some Palestinians searched through the garbage for reusable items, many residents expressed relief that the site would finally be cleared. An elderly resident, Abu Issa, stressed the urgent need to move the waste far from populated neighborhoods, warning that the dump could produce harmful gases, spread diseases, and create serious health hazards for the community.
Source:
Alessandro Mrakic, head of the UNDP Gaza Office, confirmed that operations started on Wednesday. Trucks and bulldozers were deployed to remove the enormous pile of solid waste that accumulated during the conflict. The dump has grown into a towering heap, severely affecting nearby residents and businesses.
According to Mrakic, the garbage mound measures more than 300,000 cubic meters in volume and rises about 13 meters high. The waste built up after municipal workers were unable to access Gaza's primary landfill in Juhr Al-Dik when the war began in October 2023. With normal disposal routes cut off, waste continued to accumulate inside the city.
The Juhr Al-Dik landfill area, located near the Israeli border, is now fully under Israeli control. This has prevented local authorities from resuming regular waste management operations. As a result, emergency dumping sites were created, including the one that overwhelmed Fras Market.
Over the next six months, UNDP plans to relocate the waste to a newly prepared temporary site in the Abu Jarad area, south of Gaza City. The new location has been developed according to environmental safety standards. It spans 75,000 square meters and will also serve as a center for daily waste collection.
The cleanup project is funded by the Humanitarian Fund and the European Union's Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations. Officials say the initiative aims not only to clear the waste but also to prevent further environmental damage and protect public health in the densely populated area.
While some Palestinians searched through the garbage for reusable items, many residents expressed relief that the site would finally be cleared. An elderly resident, Abu Issa, stressed the urgent need to move the waste far from populated neighborhoods, warning that the dump could produce harmful gases, spread diseases, and create serious health hazards for the community.
Source: