The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has launched a large-scale operation to remove hundreds of thousands of tons of accumulated waste in the Gaza Strip, marking one of the most urgent humanitarian clean-up efforts since the outbreak of the war.
According to the United Nations (UN), about 370,000 tons of garbage have piled up over more than two years of conflict in Gaza, turning areas such as Firas Market in central Gaza City into major pollution hotspots. The crisis has been compounded by the collapse of essential services, including waste collection and sewage systems.
Heavy trucks and bulldozers began clearing debris and refuse from streets on Thursday, transporting the waste to sites away from residential neighborhoods in an effort to curb the spread of disease.
Amjad Al Shawa, head of the NGO Network in Gaza, said the initiative carries significant importance for residents who are acutely aware of the health risks caused by mounting waste. He warned that the accumulation has contributed to the spread of epidemics, insects, rodents and stray animals, adding that the start of removal efforts offers a glimmer of hope for the population.
In parallel humanitarian operations, UN teams supported the evacuation of 18 patients and 26 companions through the Rafah crossing on Wednesday, while receiving 41 returnees at Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis. A reception area has been set up to assist those re-entering the enclave.
UN spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric stressed the importance of allowing more people to move voluntarily and safely to and from Gaza, particularly those requiring urgent medical care and other essential services. He also expressed hope that trucks would be permitted to pass through the Rafah crossing to increase the volume of humanitarian supplies reaching the territory.
The clean-up operation comes as diplomatic efforts continue to address the broader crisis. On January 14, the United States announced the implementation of the second phase of President Donald Trump’s 20-point plan aimed at ending the Gaza conflict.
The proposal includes reconstruction efforts, the disarmament of Hamas and other Palestinian factions, and the formation of a technocratic transitional Palestinian administrative committee operating under what has been described as a Peace Council.
The first phase of the Gaza ceasefire agreement took effect on October 10, 2025, following indirect negotiations between Hamas and Israel hosted in Sharm el Sheikh with mediation by Egypt, Qatar, the US and Turkey.
The US is preparing to host the first leaders-level meeting of the proposed Peace Council in Washington on February 19, according to American media reports and diplomatic sources.
The gathering is expected to bring together participating countries and launch a parallel donor conference to secure funding for Gaza’s reconstruction after nearly two years of widespread destruction.
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