A delegation from the International Committee of the Red Cross visited the Sheikh Ejleen wastewater treatment plant south of Gaza, ahead of the first phase of its rehabilitation, expected to resume operation in early 2027.
As part of the ongoing efforts and various activities carried out under the urgent, life-saving response plan, and in order to repair, rehabilitate, and restore the operation of destroyed water facilities in the Gaza Strip, CMWU and Gaza Municipality today received a delegation from the International Committee of the Red Cross on a field tour of the Sheikh Ejleen wastewater treatment plant south of Gaza City, which sustained severe damage as a result of the war, ahead of the launch of the first phase of its rehabilitation, repair, and restoration to operation, to secure an acceptable level of environmental efficiency in removing pollutants.
The visiting delegation included Mr. Angel, Head of the Water and Habitat Unit at the ICRC, and Ms. Francesca, Deputy Head of the Delegation in Gaza, along with a number of specialists. They were received by Eng. Omar Shatat, CMWU Deputy Executive Director, and a number of engineers from the Utility and Gaza Municipality.
During the field tour, attendees inspected the various facilities of the plant and were briefed on the scale of the damage and destruction it had sustained, as well as the various components of the first phase of the rehabilitation works and preparations, which will enable the plant to resume operation again by the beginning of 2027.
The visit also included discussion of prospects for cooperation, interventions, and plans intended for implementation during 2026 and 2027, aimed at the urgent restoration of various water and sanitation services and improving their quality for residents and displaced persons, in order to secure an acceptable minimum standard of life and human dignity.
This visit reflects the importance of cooperation and coordination between CMWU and the International Committee of the Red Cross, serving the rehabilitation of vital infrastructure facilities, with the aim of improving water and sanitation services across the various areas of the Gaza Strip.
