Total Collapse of Abasan al-Jadida’s Infrastructure

After the Israeli occupying forces (IOF) made an incursion into the Abasan al-Jadida town, the Abasan al-Jadida Municipality building and facilities were totally destroyed, completely ceasing municipal service provision. The municipality addressed an urgent appeal to all local and international organizations in order to provide necessary support and protection to municipal staff, facilities, equipment and machinery to enable the resumption of basic service delivery to the local community. 

Following the first withdrawal, despite widespread damage caused to the Abasan al-Jadida town, municipal emergency teams managed to continue to work with limited resources. Still, the tragic situation deteriorated after the town had been turned into a disaster-stricken area. It was difficult to provide essential services to the population after municipal equipment had been destroyed, including the central water desalination plant.  

Concerns about widespread random dumpsites 

The Emergency Committee at the Abasan al-Jadida Municipality placed a call for assistance, warning against the alarming spread of random dumpsites in close proximity to residential areas, including grave consequences on public health and threat of pandemic diseases. The committee called for providing waste trucks before the health crisis would deteriorate and cause damage to citizens. 

Due to the destruction inflicted on public infrastructure and facilities, the municipality announced that the town was uninhabitable, making basic service delivery impossible.  

Destruction of the main water reservoir and loss of water supply 

With a capacity of 2,100 cubic metres, the main reservoir was destroyed by the ongoing Israeli aggression against the Gaza Strip. Now out of service, the reservoir was the main water source in Abasan al-Jadida and neighbouring towns. This has resulted in a major shortage of water supply to the local community. Despite limited resources and damaged municipal equipment, the Emergency Committee teams managed to repair the 6-inch main water pipeline, providing additional access points to the local population. 

Abasan al-Jadida: A disaster-stricken, uninhabitable town 

The municipality announced that the town has been disaster-stricken and uninhabitable. During the aggression, in addition to agricultural land, the IOF destroyed all homes, main water, electricity and communication networks, municipal facilities and equipment, and citizens’ livelihoods. 

In this vein, the municipality appeals to the Palestinian National Authority, international community, civil society groups, and businesspeople to fulfil their duty towards the town, put an end to the savage aggression against our people, reconstruct the town, and bring life back to normality. The municipal Emergency Committee highlighted it utilized its potential and capacity to the maximum extent to alleviate the suffering of citizens by reopening main roads and repairing water networks. 

Appeal to provide international and local assistance 

According to the approved master plan, the municipality’s administrative jurisdiction covers 3,328 dunums. The town has a population of some 13,000, who have been homeless after the IOF committed the most heinous demolition and destruction of their homes. The municipality stresses the pressing need for immediate intervention to provide humanitarian support and relief, ensure the protection of residents, and restore normalcy in the town which suffers from a real humanitarian catastrophe.