Serious violations in Wadi Al-Muqatta' threaten the environment and public health in Marj Ibn Amer

The course of Wadi Al-Muqatta' passing through Marj Ibn Amer, a vital artery in "Palestine's Green Basket," is subjected to severe environmental violations, including encroachment on the course's boundaries and the indiscriminate dumping of solid waste and carcasses of dead animals, such as cows and sheep. The presence of these carcasses creates an ideal environment for the proliferation of stray dogs and wild boars, providing them with a sustainable food source. It is worth noting that curbing this phenomenon directly contributes to controlling the numbers of stray dogs. In addition, the dead animals dumped in the wadi's course cause the spread of many diseases in the surrounding agricultural areas, posing a direct threat to other herds grazing in the area and potentially entering the course. These warnings are based on scientific field studies of biodiversity in the region conducted by Dr. Walid Basha, an environmental expert and director of Al-Basha Scientific Center for Studies and Research, and a professor of microbiology and immunology at the Faculty of Medicine and Allied Medical Sciences at An-Najah National University, which reveal the serious repercussions of these practices. In light of these facts, Basha issued an urgent and pressing call to all responsible authorities, including municipalities and relevant ministries of agriculture, health, and environment, as well as security institutions, to take immediate action, demanding enhanced monitoring and field follow-up on the course of Wadi Al-Muqatta' and holding violators accountable, along with providing environmentally sound solutions for disposing of waste and dead animals in the area. He also emphasized the necessity of launching sustainable awareness campaigns for farmers and the local community to explain the serious health and environmental risks of such practices. He said: In this context, it is essential to develop a joint and long-term action plan among all relevant institutions to continuously monitor and protect this vital natural resource. He added: Protecting the course of Wadi Al-Muqatta' is a shared responsibility and a national duty, and ensuring its safety directly means preserving the health of citizens and the sustainability of Marj Ibn Amer, so that it remains a vital symbol of food and environmental security and the beating heart of "Palestine's Green Basket."