Sewage Leakage Sparks Health and Environmental Concerns in Daraa
The town of Al-Ghariyah al-Gharbiyah in the eastern countryside of Daraa is currently facing a deteriorating environmental and health crisis. The situation stems from the leakage of sewage water flowing through the Wadi al-Dhahab valley, originating from the neighboring town of Al-Ghariyah al-Sharqiya. This continuous flow of wastewater has resulted in ongoing environmental pollution that directly impacts the daily lives of residents in the neighborhoods through which the stream passes.
Mohammad Nahar Aweir, the Mukhtar of Al-Ghariyah al-Gharbiyah, stated that residents have been enduring the influx of contaminated water for more than six months. The waste has reached the immediate vicinity of residential homes, creating a breeding ground for foul odors, mosquitoes, and other insects. These conditions have intensified concerns among local families regarding the potential outbreak of epidemics and infectious diseases, particularly among children.
Local resident Mahmoud Shehadeh, who lives near the valley stream, described the daily struggle his family faces. He highlighted that the open sewage channel, located in the heart of the residential area, poses a significant health risk to children playing nearby. He called on the relevant authorities to intervene immediately to resolve this environmental hazard. Another resident, Safwan al-Asaad, echoed these concerns, noting that the impact of the pollution now extends beyond public health. He reported that the contamination has caused material damage to citizens’ property and home furnishings, emphasizing that previous appeals to competent authorities have yet to yield any concrete solutions.
Mahmoud al-Ghubeiti, head of the town’s local council, confirmed that the sewage overflow from Al-Ghariyah al-Sharqiya is a recurring, long-standing issue that exerts significant pressure on the community. Al-Ghubeiti explained that the relevant authorities in the Daraa Governorate have been contacted to initiate a field response. In turn, the governorate dispatched a specialized engineering team to inspect the sewage route from Al-Ghariyah al-Sharqiya to the affected neighborhoods in Al-Ghariyah al-Gharbiyah, with the goal of developing a remediation plan.
Currently, the General Company for Drinking Water and Sanitation in the Daraa Governorate is working in coordination with international organizations and donor agencies to implement rehabilitation projects for damaged networks across the governorate. These efforts are part of a broader strategy aimed at finding definitive solutions to sewage issues in areas suffering from the flow of contaminated water through valleys and residential districts, with the ultimate objective of mitigating environmental and health risks to ensure a safe environment for residents in the affected towns and villages.
Source: Syria Focus Arabic
