Enab Baladi – Christina al-Shammas
The residents of Ida’shariah in Damascus continue to suffer due to the existence of a waste transfer station in their residential neighborhood, despite promises of solutions previously discussed by the General Supervisor of the Environmental Sector at the Damascus Cleaning Directorate, Sabri Abbas, to Enab Baladi.
According to Abbas, on March 19, the Damascus Cleaning Directorate is conducting a study of alternative locations to transfer the Ida’shariah waste dump to a temporary collection transfer station within a few weeks. However, there have been no waste removal operations so far.
Enab Baladi reached out again to Abbas to understand the situation and the reasons behind the delay in relocating the Ida’shariah waste station. He explained that they are facing challenges in identifying a new location for the waste transfer station.
Abbas confirmed that the Damascus Cleaning Directorate is in discussions with its counterpart in rural Damascus to determine a new transfer station that meets environmental standards and is away from residential areas. All proposed locations at least five kilometers away from residential neighborhoods have been rejected by the residents.
Abbas added that one of the difficulties they face is the lack of suitable locations for a waste dump, as well as the requirement that the location be relatively close to the capital, meaning it should not be more than 15 kilometers from the center of Damascus and its countryside.
The Ida’shariah area is located in the center of Damascus, near Bab Sharqi, and the dump overlooks the main road connecting Bab Sharqi to Bab Touma and al-Zablatani, which are areas with high population density.
The dump’s wall is adjacent to a mosque and the al-Fath al-Islami complex affiliated with Bilad al-Sham University, which has angered worshippers and local residents.
Residents complain again
The suffering of the residents of Ida’shariah intensifies with the beginning of spring, as rodents, insects, and unpleasant odors increase. The situation worsens with weather fluctuations coinciding with strong winds, causing garbage to spread and extend to the road connecting Bab Sharqi and Bab Touma.
Moreover, the unpleasant odors reach the al-Zablatani area in Damascus, causing discontent among the residents of Ida’shariah and those passing through the area, which experiences daily traffic congestion in Bab Sharqi.
Tatiana Jabour (22 years old), a resident of Bab Sharqi, told Enab Baladi that she suffers from asthma, and the constant presence of foul odors in the area exacerbates her condition.
“We are tired of promises without real action on the ground, and the damage from this dump does not only affect the residents of Ida’shariah but includes all inhabitants of neighboring areas,” said Jabour.
Previous statement
The General Supervisor of the Environmental Sector at the Damascus Cleaning Directorate, Sabri Abbas, previously stated to Enab Baladi that there are many challenges they face regarding determining waste transfer stations.
Among the issues complicating the work of the Damascus Cleaning Directorate are the lack of machinery and equipment, alongside a shortage of workers, many of whom are nearing retirement age.
Abbas indicated that one of the future plans the Cleaning Directorate is working on in Damascus is the establishment of smart underground waste containers. According to the project’s preliminary study, 100 locations have been identified for these containers to reduce the accumulation of garbage in most residential areas.
Diseases and risks from waste exposure
According to a study published by the Arab Journal for Scientific Publishing (AJSP) titled “The Impact of Solid Waste on the Local Community,” individuals may be exposed to health risks from waste in various ways, such as:
Contact: Such as skin or mucous membrane contact with waste. Penetration: For instance, being pricked by used needles or injured by sharp metal waste. Ingestion: Like eating food or drinking water or liquids that have been contaminated by waste, such as drinking water tainted by sewage leakage. Inhalation: Through the inhalation of aerosols polluted with chemicals from waste or germs, or breathing contaminated air laden with dust.The study indicated that direct handling and contact with waste could lead to various diseases, including:
Exposure to gastrointestinal germs: Such as E. coli and Salmonella, as well as viruses that can lead to gastroenteritis, and exposure to the Hepatitis A virus, which is transmitted via eating food contaminated with the feces of an infected person. Parasites associated with animal waste: Like those found in cat feces, which can cause toxoplasmosis, and if contracted by pregnant women, could transfer to the fetus leading to severe complications. Bacteria from animal reservoirs like rodents: Such as Leptospirosis, an infection linked to rat urine, which can lead to jaundice, meningitis, and kidney damage. Viruses transmitted through blood: Like Hepatitis B and C, and the HIV virus causing Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS). This occurs due to being pricked by needles contaminated with viruses, posing a significant issue for those dealing with medical waste.
Damascus: Ida’shariah residents await solution to waste issue Enab Baladi.
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