Waste dumping threatens West Bank
Published: March 28, 2008 at 12:36 PM
RAMALLAH , West Bank, March 28 (UPI) -- Extensive garbage dumping in the West Bank is posing a toxic threat to the health of residents, Israeli and Palestinian environmentalists said.
Residents of Jima'in in the district of Nablus have cited concerns about Israeli vehicles unloading garbage on Palestinian grounds, al-Jazeera reported.
"The Israelis are using the West Bank as a cheap and easy alternative for dumping their waste at the expense of the health of Palestinians," said Ayman Abu Thaher, deputy director general of the Palestinian Authority's Environmental Awareness Directorate.
The burning of garbage has contributed to environmental problems in the region, Zecharya Tagar, of the Israeli sector of Friends of the Earth Middle East, told al-Jazeera.
"This is causing the air to be filled with carcinogenic particles that Palestinians are breathing in on a daily basis," Tagar said.
The environmental organization also said the pollution is a threat to the area's drinking water.
Residents of Jima'in in the district of Nablus have cited concerns about Israeli vehicles unloading garbage on Palestinian grounds, al-Jazeera reported.
"The Israelis are using the West Bank as a cheap and easy alternative for dumping their waste at the expense of the health of Palestinians," said Ayman Abu Thaher, deputy director general of the Palestinian Authority's Environmental Awareness Directorate.
The burning of garbage has contributed to environmental problems in the region, Zecharya Tagar, of the Israeli sector of Friends of the Earth Middle East, told al-Jazeera.
"This is causing the air to be filled with carcinogenic particles that Palestinians are breathing in on a daily basis," Tagar said.
The environmental organization also said the pollution is a threat to the area's drinking water.
© 2008 United Press International. All Rights Reserved.
This material may not be reproduced, redistributed, or manipulated in any form.
This material may not be reproduced, redistributed, or manipulated in any form.
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