COUNTRY REPORT EVALUATION Course Name

1. STATE OF PALESTINE MINSTRY OF THE ENVIROMENT COUNTRY REPORT EVALUATION Course Name ( Risk Assessment & Monitoring For Environmental Chemicals ) Presented By Nidal Mahmoud Telefax : 00972 (0)42433770 Telefax=00972(0)22403495 mobile =00972 599836971 Email: nidal_seifein@yahoo.com MARS /08/2005

2. Main Menu • Introduction • Organanization Chart • Environmental Situation in Palestine • Major Environmental Problem • Air and Noise Pollution • Quarrying and Crushing Stone • Future Challenges and Recommendation • Obstacles

3. Introduction Palestine is the ancient name of a Middle Eastern country situated on the Eastern coast of the Mediterranean sea. Its size has varied greatly throughout its history and its exact border are even now in dispute. . The West Bank The West Bank is a term used to mean the disputed lands located West of the Jordan River between Israel and and Jordan. Its area is about 5900 sq km and its holds many sites of religious importance's to Jews, Christian and Muslims. The largest cities the West Bank are Heron and Nobles The Gaza Strip The Gaza Strip is a narrow area of desert land along the Western Mediterranean Sea. It is about 42km long and 6.5 to 8km wide. The Gaza Strip is Densely populated. The majority are refugees from Israel who have lived under extremely difficult condition in refugee camps since 1984

4. -- -The total area of the West Bank and Gaza ia around 6185 sq. km.In these areas the population is around 2.9 million, of which males are almost 50.8%. -The Palestinian population growth rate is one of the highest in the world as it exceed 5.5%annualy. The population density in the West Bank is almost 331 person/km2 while in Gaza is about 2805 person/km2. -The population of the West Bank and Gaza is very young, almost half of the population is under the age of 15 years, and only 3.5% are above 65 years, this contributes to the future aggravation of the Environmental situation

5. Organization Chart

6. This is the old chart of our organization. • Our department part of the Environmental protection. • My job is head section of Monitoring and controlling section for all the • Elements ,which causes the pollution to the Environmental. • We give also the instruction to the responsible people in order to • Reduce the pollution as much as possible.

7. Environmental Situation in Palestine -Shortage and pollution of resources, occupied with very high population growth. -few job opportunities and long years of negligence due to the Israeli occupation ,have created many environmental hazards shortage of water -deterioration of water quality constitute a limiting factor in the economic development of Palestine . The environmental problems in Palestine are most caused by the demographic momentum : the very high birth rate , low age of population and the high dependency rate. Israeli occupation and the shortage of strong central environmental management contributed to the indifference lake of awareness of the needs and means of achieving acceptable environmental standards.

8. Major environmental problems • Depletation of water resources. • Deterioration of water quality. • Depletation of natural resources. • Land degradation. • Air and noise pollution • Shoreline and the marine pollution • Deterioration of nature and biodiversity • Landscape and aesthetic distortion. • Threats of cultural heritage.

9. Air and Noise Pollution Air pollution in the West Bank -Transportation contributes about 40-50% to the air pollution of the West Bank -Charcoal industry is the main source of pollution Air pollution in Gaza in Gaza the air pollution the high density of: -Traffic and the average old age of the cars mainly cause problem -The industrial coastal zone in Israel, especially from the coal -50% of total air pollution is produced from traffic As dud refinery

10. Main air pollution in Gaza Strip

11. Quantities of Air pollution in the West Bank

12. Noise Pollution Noise is defined as an excessive or unwanted sound such as vibration in air,water,steel,or other substances. The decibel (dB)is used to describe the sound level. The decibel scale ranges from zero the threshold of hearing) to about a 140 dB,the onset of pain

13. Quarrying ,stone Crushing and stone –processing Industry -Quarrying and stone processing are considered the leading industries in the West Bank,and also major contributors to environmental degradation and pollution -There are about 700 units distributed all over the West Bank, employing about 3500 workers. Most of these units are located in residential and agricultural areas the following figure shows the air pollution produced from stone quarries in the West Bank

16. Future Challenges and Recommendation-Set up a system for monitoring of ambient air quality as will as ambient air-Encouraging the use public transportation-Imported fuel oil ,especially gasoline and diesel-Formulate a comprehensive national plan to prevent causes of air pollution-Designate certain areas for craft and industries-Encouraging a national program to spread environmental awareness among the Palestinian people -Formulate emergency Reponses to pollution incident, especially chemical,bilogical, and nuclear waste from Israel

17. O b s t a c l e s The following obstacles can be summarized as follows; 1-Air and noise pollution do not considered as a high priority as water 2-Shortage of financial resources and technical capabilities in the area of development activies,research,studies and the monitoring needed for pollution control. 3-Using old technology in industries, which do not take environmental consideration in the account 4-Low level of environmental a wariness

18. The Environmental Situation in Palestine • is in a very bad State • It is deteriorating future….. The Situation has reached a stage that is threading to health A stage well below acceptable standards… therefore Dealing with the environmental in Palestine in an effective way has become a top priority