Wartime garbage mound buried historic market, posing severe health risks
A massive wartime garbage dump that engulfed one of Gaza City’s oldest commercial districts is finally being cleared, marking a critical step in addressing a growing environmental and public health emergency.
Massive Dump Overtakes Historic Market
The United Nations Development Programme began removing a solid-waste mound on Feb 11 that has swallowed Fras Market, once a bustling commercial hub serving nearly 600,000 residents in Gaza City.
According to Alessandro Mrakic, head of the UNDP Gaza Office, the garbage heap exceeds 300,000 cubic metres and rises about 13 metres high. The accumulation began after municipal crews were cut off from Gaza’s main landfill in Juhr al-Dik when war erupted in October 2023. The landfill area is now under full Israeli control.
Six-Month Relocation Plan
UNDP plans to relocate the waste over the next six months to a newly prepared temporary site in Abu Jarad, south of Gaza City. The 75,000-square-metre facility has been built to meet environmental standards and will also handle daily waste collection.
The relocation project is funded by the Humanitarian Fund and the European Union’s Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations. Gaza Municipality confirmed the joint effort, calling it an urgent response to approximately 350,000 cubic metres of rubbish piling up in the city’s center.
Public Health And Environmental Threat
Residents living near the dump have reported worsening conditions. Elderly Gazan Abu Issa described fears of gases, diseases, and germs emanating from the site. Many locals have been seen sifting through the garbage, reflecting the dire economic conditions while highlighting exposure risks.
Amjad al-Shawa, head of the Palestinian NGOs Network, warned that the dump has fueled serious health and environmental problems, including the spread of insects and illness. He described the mound as a stark symbol of the war’s prolonged disruption.
Transitional Site Until Landfills Reopen
Al-Shawa said the waste will be transported to a transitional site near the former Netzarim settlement in central Gaza. The arrangement will remain in place until Israeli forces withdraw from eastern areas and municipal authorities regain access to permanent landfill facilities.
Gaza’s two main sanitary landfills remain inaccessible, significantly constraining waste management operations. The ongoing inaccessibility continues to pose critical environmental and public health risks.
Broader Emergency Response Efforts
Since the conflict began, UNDP has collected more than 570,000 tons of solid waste across Gaza as part of its emergency response. Efforts in 2024 and 2025 reduced the number of temporary dumpsites from 141 to 56.
However, only 10 to 12 of those temporary sites are currently accessible and operational, according to a UNDP report released last December. The agency warned that despite progress, risks remain severe due to limited infrastructure and restricted access.
A Symbol Of War And Hope
Fras Market’s burial under garbage for over a year represented the breakdown of essential municipal services amid conflict. Its clearance may carry symbolic weight beyond sanitation.
Al-Shawa noted that removing the waste could offer residents a sense of hope that the ceasefire agreed last October is moving forward. For many Gazans, restoring public spaces signals the first steps toward recovery after years of devastation.
The clearing of Gaza City’s massive wartime garbage dump underscores the scale of environmental damage caused by prolonged conflict. While the relocation effort marks progress, limited landfill access and strained infrastructure continue to threaten public health. For Indonesians and Singaporeans observing humanitarian responses in conflict zones, the situation highlights the critical link between environmental management, stability, and long-term recovery.
Sources: Asia One (2026) , Reuters (2026)
Keywords: Fras Market, Alessandro Mrakic, Gaza Municipality, Abu Jarad Site, European Union Aid
