New UNEP report on the
Gaza Strip provides important lessons for possible
further Israeli disengagements in the West Bank
JERUSALEM, 30 March, 2006 – The
United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) has
revealed the results of the first major investigation
into the environmental impact of the Israeli disengagement
from Gaza last year. By and large, the UNEP scientific
assessment report gives the Gaza pull-out an environmental
clean bill of health.
The release of the report and the lessons it draws
are given an added significance coming just days
after this week’s Israeli elections. “Any further
Israeli pull-outs from the West Bank now have an
important ecological benchmark by which they can
be judged”, said Klaus Toepfer, UNEP Executive Director.
The environmental impact of the former Israeli settlements
in the Gaza strip was limited and should not constrain
Palestinian land-use plans, according to the UNEP
report, “Environmental Assessment of the Areas disengaged
by Israel in the Gaza Strip”.
Other than some localised pollution and issues associated
with asbestos, the assessment did not find contamination
of water, land or buildings that poses a significant
risk to the environment or public health. As long
as recommendations concerned with the necessary
clean-up are implemented, there are no environmental
constraints to Palestinian settlement in the area,
the report says.
Apart from being good news for the environment,
as well as possible future economic investment in
Gaza, the report also demonstrates how environmental
issues can be a potential bridge-building element
between the Israelis and the Palestinians as they
seek to find new grounds for cooperation.
“The general clean bill of health on this aspect
of Gaza’s environment is welcome news for everyone
concerned with the environment, long term stability
and economic progress of the region,” said Mr Toepfer.
“The assessment not only provides the necessary
foundation for future social and economic development
in Gaza, it also demonstrates how environmental
cooperation can be a positive tool in the peace
process,” Toepfer continued. “This report is published
at a time when intensive political discussion is
underway to resolve the challenging problems in
the region. It is my sincere hope that cooperation
on environment can serve as a confidence building
tool between the parties,” he said.
The report looks at water quality, soil/land contamination,
hazardous waste, asbestos and coastal zone issues
in the areas disengaged in the Gaza Strip by Israel
in September 2005.
Prepared at the request of the Palestinian Authority
and with the cooperation of the Israeli government,
the aim of the assessment was to provide a snapshot
of the environmental conditions in the former settlement
areas, and to identify any areas of immediate concern
before resettlement and new construction takes place.
Using satellite imagery, earlier reports and feedback
from Palestinian, Israeli and international sources
prior to the disengagement, UNEP scientists identified
approximately 100 areas of interest including industrial
buildings, waste disposal sites, agricultural plants
and storage tanks.
The relevant sites were then investigated on the
ground during a UNEP field mission to the former
settlements in December 2005. Samples were produced
in triplicate and sent to the Palestinians and Israelis,
as well as an independent laboratory in the UK.
The UNEP report provides preliminary recommendations
for local solutions to tackle some of the identified
environmental problems such as the clean-up of oil
spillages.
At the Erez Industrial Estate, the site of most
of the soil pollution, the report recommends a detailed
assessment of the affected area followed by clean-up
of the contaminated sites, including cleaning of
spilled oil, and its proper disposal, from an extensively
damaged power generation plant.
The removal and disposal of rubble remains a major
activity to be undertaken prior to large-scale resettlement
in the areas concerned. During this period, issues
associated with asbestos need to be handled carefully
so as not to expose workers to unnecessary harm,
says the UNEP report. The same is the case with
the refurbishment of buildings which also may contain
asbestos material.
UNEP is working closely with the United Nations
Development Programme / Programme of Assistance
to the Palestinian People (UNDP/PAPP), which has
been entrusted by the Government of Israel, the
Palestinian Authority and the Office of the Special
Envoy for the Quartet, Mr James Wolfensohn, to carry
out the task of clearing and recycling the more
than 1.2 million tons of rubble produced by the
destruction of the settlements in the Gaza strip.
Other than contaminated soil and asbestos, the assessment
did not identify major sources of hazardous wastes
in the region. It did, however, locate a number
of unlined dumpsites, mostly receiving household
and agricultural wastes, sometimes in old quarries.
The report recommends that these areas are delineated
on the land-use map restricting their use and further
site specific investigation and risk assessment
undertaken to decide upon the final plan for each
of the identified dumpsites.
It is hoped that the information generated by the
assessment will be used for longer-term planning
of various resource uses, including land use planning,
agricultural use and solid waste management systems.
UNEP will be providing all the information gathered
in a web-based information system to the Palestinian
Authority, and is preparing to assist further on
priority issues like clean-up activities, training
on asbestos removal and the development of relevant
environmental management plans.
The UNEP assessment in Gaza was financially supported
by the governments of Switzerland and Sweden.
Note to Editors
A press conference to launch the new UNEP report
will be held at 11am on Thursday 30 March in the
Hotel American Colony, East Jerusalem.
Copies of the report, “Environmental Assessment
of the Areas disengaged by Israel in the Gaza Strip”,
and photographs can be downloaded from: http://www.unep.org
or http://postconflict.unep.ch/opt_new.htm
The web sites also contain further background information
on UNEP’s earlier work in the region including a
study on the Environment in the Occupied Palestinian
Territories.
For broadcasters, B-roll footage taken during the
Gaza field work is also available.
For more information please contact: Robert Bisset,
UNEP Press Officer (in Jerusalem until 31 March)
on mobile +33 6 22725842, email: robert.bisset@unep.fr.
In Nairobi, contact: Nick Nuttall, UNEP Spokesperson,
Office of the Executive Director, on Tel: +254 20
62 3084; Mobile: +254 733 632 755, email: nick.nuttall@unep.org
If there is no prompt response, contact Elisabeth
Waechter, UNEP Associate Media Officer, on +254
20623088, Mob: +254 720173968, email: elisabeth.waechter@unep.org
