Experts warn of negative impacts of Egypt’s steel wall on life in Gaza

[ 17/01/2010 - 06:28 PM ]

GAZA, (PIC)-- Environmentalists and economists on Saturday warned of the negative environmental and economic impacts of building the steel wall by Egypt on its borders with the Gaza Strip, affirming that the wall would destroy Gaza aquifer.

At a symposium held by Ma’an development center in Gaza, the experts talked about the impact of the wall on the life of Gaza inhabitants and water resources.

Water expert Nizar Al-Wahidi highlighted during the meeting that the steel wall would lead to the destruction and contamination of Gaza groundwater aquifer and would have harmful impact on both the Egyptian and Palestinian sides environmentally, economically and socially.

Wahidi added that the wall would force the Gazans to dig deeper tunnels, which constitute a great danger to their lives and would lead to severe drought and famine in Gaza.

He also noted that the excavations and salt water pumped underground would lead to landslides affecting civilian buildings and structures in Rafah areas.

The expert pointed to the presence of international agreements governing cross-border relations between countries and managing their shared resources, and stressed that Egypt, in light of that, has to coordinate with the Palestinians in Gaza before constructing its wall.

For his part, professor of economics Mu’ein Rajab warned of the economic damages of building this wall, saying that the absence of tunnel trade would deprive the domestic markets of vital needs especially food and stall the few current signs of economic life in Gaza.

Rajab added that the Strip would witness during the coming period a significant decline in economic growth and in per capita income.

Other experts urged universities and research centers to prepare extensive studies on the effects of this wall and called on different media outlets to contribute to easing the tension caused by the construction of the wall between the Palestinians and Egyptians and to deal professionally and objectively with such critical issues.