The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has collected over 570,000 tons of solid waste in Gaza as part of an emergency response effort, according to a report by the Times of Israel.
The UNDP plans to relocate the waste within the next six months to a newly constructed temporary site in Abu Jrad, south of Gaza City. The site, covering 75,000 square meters, has been built to meet environmental standards and will also facilitate daily waste collection, the report stated.
The initiative comes amid ongoing regional challenges, with the UNDP actively working to promote sustainable development and resilience in the Arab States, according to its website. The organization collaborates with various UN entities, including the UN Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA) and the UN Sustainable Development Group, to address key issues that transcend national borders.
The Regional Collaborative Platform (RCP) for the Arab States, chaired by the UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina J. Mohammed, unites UN entities working on sustainable development to ensure coordinated efforts. Members of the RCP include UN DESA, UN ECA, FAO, ICAO, IFAD, ILO, IOM, ITU, OCHA, OHCHR, UNAIDS, UNCTAD, UNDP, UNEP, UNESCO, UNFPA, UN-HABITAT, UNHCR, UNICEF, UNIDO, UNODC, UNOPS, UNRWA, UNV, UN WOMEN, WFP, WHO, WMO, and the World Bank.
In February 2025, Arab leaders convened in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, to discuss strategies to counter a proposed plan by former U.S. President Donald Trump regarding the control of Gaza and the potential displacement of its population, as reported by Manorama Online.