Heavy showers continue to fall on different areas of the Gaza Strip since the evening of Monday, 27 October 2008.
Rainwater formed large pools in different areas across the Strip, especially al-Saftwi area, al-Alami area, the northern parts of Jabalia refugee camp, Jurat al-Aqad area, and other refugee camps.
It flooded many houses, raising concerns that dozens of households would be forced to search for shelters.
Al Mezan Center monitored the rise of rainwater level in Abu Rashid basin in the middle of Jabalia refugee camp.
Water also drowned the pool's surrounding area, blocking traffic inside the camp and causing power cuts.
Moreover, the pool's water pump stopped working, threatening that a flood would sweep the refugee camp.
The Center has monitored with concern the flow of large amounts of water into North Gaza Sewage Treatment Plant, near in the Bedouin Village.
The Plant, which receives sewage and storm rain water from the entire north Gaza area, does not have an outlet.
It depends on infiltration and evaporation.
Since this is the first winter rain, plants and its surrounding random lagoon has some capacity to receive water.
However, this situation is not expected to last for long.
If rain continues to fall heavily and no urgent procedures are taken, there is credible concern arising from threatening the life and wellbeing of the residents of the Bedouin Village and al-Manshiya and Fadous neighborhoods of Beit Lahia town.
The Bedouin Village and Beit Lahia had suffered from deadly floods from the Plant during the past few years.
An alternative, modern treatment plant is under construction in eastern Jabalia; however, it needs at least two months to function, only if the required materials and equipment are allowed to enter Gaza.
This plant should have been working two years ago; nevertheless, IOF's restrictions on the entry of necessary supplies caused this prolonged delay.
Al Mezan Center warns that the rise of the level of waste water and rainwater in the northern Gaza Treatment Plant could repeat the tragedy that occurred on 27 March 2007.
A flood of sewage water hit the Bedouin Village and killed two women and two children.
Eighteen persons were also drowned in waste water, including 10 women and 3 children.
Dozens of houses were completely destroyed and hundreds were partially damaged.
The flood swept away vehicles, animals, poultry and agricultural land.
The village residents, around 5000 people, were relocated to tents on the sand hills to the north of the village.
Al Mezan Center for Human Rights warns about the seriousness of the situation in North Gaza.
The Center calls upon: The concerned parties in the government, such as the Ministry of Public Works and Housing, the Palestinian Water Authority and the Palestinian Environment Quality Authority, to take urgent procedures to reduce the strong water flow into the Plant in evade any collapses and prevent another catastrophe.
The Civil Defense Directorate and the Ministry of Public Works and Housing to take necessary actions to encounter the winter, including securing shelters and taking procedures against the collapse of houses especially in the underprivileged areas in the Gaza Strip.
The Center also calls the UNRWA to take precautions in the refugee camps.
Al Mezan Center reiterates its condemnation of Israel's restrictions on movement which have prevented the operation of a sewage treatment plant in north Gaza and water facilities in Khan Younis.
The Center holds Israel responsible for any disaster that might fall upon the civilian population in the area owing to floods of the current North Gaza Treatment Plant basins.
The Center calls the international community to take immediate action to end the siege on Gaza, which puts at risk the life and wellbeing of the Strip's population.
Israel must allow free entry of materials and supplies essential for the operation of water facilities in Gaza.
For relevant background information, please consult the following links: Despite frequent warnings, an environmental disaster hits the Bedouin Village, wall of sewage water basin collapses killing four .
Al Mezan calls upon the PNA and International Community to prevent a new environmental disaster in north Gaza .
On the Brink of Disaster: The Bait Lahia Treatment Plant and Human Rights .