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UN PhotoGAZA / UNDP WASTE MANAGEMENT
STORY: GAZA / UNDP WASTE MANAGEMENT
TRT: 06:53
SOURCE: UNIFEED
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGES: ENGLISH / NATS
DATELINE: 19 OCTOBER 2025, WEST OF AL-NUSEIRAT CAMP, CENTRAL GAZA STRIP, PALESTINE
1. Various shots, UNDP vehicles arriving at the solid waste site west of Al-Nuseirat Camp in the central Gaza Strip
2. Various shots, Jaco Cilliers, UNDP Resident Representative in Palestine, during a field meeting with UNDP teams supervising the solid waste management project
3. SOUNDBITE (English) Jaco Cilliers, Resident Representative in Palestine, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP):
“So, UNDP is also working very actively in solid waste management. It is a major challenge for the rebuilding of Gaza but also for making sure that health and environmental issues are addressed. How the solid waste is managed at the moment is very problematic because the two main dumping sites on the outside perimeter of Gaza are not as accessible anymore. So unfortunately, many temporary waste sites have to be created. There are 47 such waste sites as is behind me. UNDP manages how these sites are set up so it protects the population. As you can see, unfortunately, internally displaced people are living very close to these sites, but we also rehabilitate it. So, we make sure that it is covered and make sure that the diseases cannot spread to the population. It's a very big undertaking but it's a very big need for the rebuilding efforts as well and UNDP will continue to stay in this area for as long as it takes.”
4. Various shots, UNDP machinery operating at the solid waste site west of Al-Nuseirat Camp in the central Gaza Strip
5. Various shots, UNDP vehicles departing from the solid waste site west of Al-Nuseirat Camp in the central Gaza Strip
Amid scenes of piled-up waste scattered across various areas of the Gaza Strip, concerns are growing over mounting health and environmental risks, as municipalities face major difficulties in managing solid waste following the destruction of infrastructure and the loss of access to the two main dumping sites on the outskirts of the enclave.
These conditions have led to the establishment of dozens of temporary waste collection sites located near residential areas and displacement centres, increasing the risk of disease outbreaks and environmental pollution.
In an effort to address the crisis, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has intensified its work to organize and manage these temporary sites as part of its broader efforts to support Gaza’s reconstruction and improve health and environmental conditions for residents.
During a field visit to one of the waste collection sites west of Al-Nuseirat Camp in central Gaza, Jaco Cilliers, UNDP Resident Representative in Palestine, said that solid waste management represents a major challenge to reconstruction efforts, noting that the program oversees 47 temporary collection sites to ensure the safety of nearby communities.
Cilliers said, “unfortunately, many internally displaced people are living close to these sites, but we are working to rehabilitate and cover them to prevent the spread of diseases in surrounding areas.”
He stressed that these efforts form an essential part of the reconstruction process, reaffirming UNDP’s commitment to continue its work “for as long as needed.”
