Israeli forces have recently pulled out from the Nuseirat refugee camp in central Gaza after a series of intense military operations. The Civil Defense Directorate in the region reported that geolocated videos have revealed extensive destruction in the area, with numerous apartment buildings either demolished or severely damaged.
The Directorate's rescue teams managed to retrieve several bodies from the rubble, but the extraction of others necessitates heavy excavation equipment. Civil Defense spokesperson Mahmoud Basal described the situation as tragic, emphasizing the widespread devastation that includes residential structures and critical infrastructure.
Basal estimated that approximately 500 individuals have been affected by the military operation, either through fatalities, injuries, detentions, or disappearances. The accuracy of this figure is yet to be confirmed, and inquiries have been made to the Israeli military regarding the objectives and extent of their actions in Nuseirat.
The mayor of Nuseirat, Iyad Maghari, highlighted the severe impact of the week-long Israeli assaults on the community. Residents have been left without essential services such as water supply, sanitation, and waste management. Maghari reported that around 25,000 square meters of roads, water wells, and generators have been destroyed, leading to a dire situation.
Moreover, the destruction of municipal vehicles and fuel shortages have resulted in the accumulation of approximately 20,000 tons of waste in the streets and near shelters, creating a sanitation crisis. The sewage system has suffered extensive damage, with over 3 kilometers of pipes destroyed, exacerbating the challenges faced by the municipality.
Maghari emphasized the urgent need for diesel fuel to operate water wells and sewage treatment plants, underscoring the critical scarcity of resources in Nuseirat. The aftermath of the military operations has left the community grappling with significant infrastructure damage and a pressing need for humanitarian assistance.
