Reference :
V-F-CR-F-01086-A
Date :
03/2011
Title :
Gazans struggle for access to clean water
Duration :
00:10:01
Editor :
unknown
Confidentiality level :
public
Publication restrictions :
reserved users only
ICRC producer :
GOIN, Maria Cecilia; REVOL, Didier
Description :
Every day, thousands of litres of untreated wastewater are dumped into the Wadi Gaza River. The polluted water snakes through urban areas on its way to the sea, jeopardizing the health of the many families living on its banks, contaminating the coastline and endangering biodiversity. International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) engineers working on a project to rehabilitate the Rafah wastewater treatment plant had to improvise solutions to a number of problems. The closure had created a shortage of cement, which was overcome by using concrete segments of the old Rafah border wall that lay abandoned after its partial demolition in January 2008. Today, the Rafah project serves 180,000 people, inhabitants of the city and its surroundings. It was completed with the assistance of the Coastal Municipalities Water Utility and the municipality of Rafah. The plant treats wastewater before it reaches the sea. Marco Albertini, the ICRC engineer in charge of the project, says: "It's a great challenge to carry out construction projects in the Strip, as building materials cannot be imported. The water and sanitation infrastructure in Gaza is in dire need of a comprehensive upgrade. To provide 1.5 million inhabitants with adequate facilities it is absolutely essential that materials such as cement, steel and water pipes are allowed in."
English title :
Gazans struggle for access to clean water
Colour/B&W :
colour
Aspect ratio :
16/9
Original material/format :
HDV
Best material/format available :
DVCam
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