Benghazi – In Benghazi’s Al-Salam neighborhood, residents wake up to a strong, heavy stench at dawn. The smell permeates streets and homes. It fills the air even before daylight. This makes daily life difficult. Residents must constantly take protective measures. They protect themselves and their children from environmental pollution and stagnant water. Stagnant water is found everywhere.
Umm Mohammed carefully opens her window. She tries to air out her home. But she quickly closes it moments later. The air is heavy with unpleasant sewage odors. Every decision to go out or ventilate the house has become difficult. The street is filled with dark water. It collects in potholes and along the roadsides. It moves slowly, as if with no outlet. Insects constantly swarm. Cars pass with extreme caution. Some pedestrians change their entire route to avoid these polluted spots. Commercial shops in Al-Salam neighborhood are also directly affected. Salem, standing outside his shop at the “Al-Shamal Clothes Club” complex, notes a significant drop in daily income. Customers avoid his shop as soon as they smell the odor. Shopfronts try to appear attractive. However, the surrounding ground tells a story of long neglect. It also points to a dilapidated sewage network. Residents state the main cause is the deteriorated sewage network. There is a lack of regular maintenance. Emergency response is slow. There are constant blockages. No clear treatment plan exists. Coordination among responsible authorities is poor. This causes the problem to recur without radical solutions.
The crisis is not limited to the smell. Polluted water provides a fertile environment for infectious diseases. These diseases particularly affect children and the elderly. Cases of diarrhea, fever, and skin infections are increasingly common. One mother says, “My children are always sick. We don’t know if the cause is the weather or the polluted water.” The situation has also affected social activity. Neighborly visits have decreased. Street activity has declined. Staying home has become a necessity, not a luxury. Children are deprived of playing outdoors. Young people have expressed frustration. Their repeated complaints receive no response. Others choose to remain silent. They wish to avoid an endless cycle of complaints without tangible results. Some residents point out that recurring problems lead to frustration and despair. They believe partial solutions are only temporary. This adds to their daily suffering. They rely on temporary methods for ventilation. They try to reduce odors inside their homes.
Traders in Al-Salam neighborhood face significant daily losses. The decline in commercial activity has clearly affected shops. Some are considering closing their businesses or relocating. Others are trying to persevere despite the difficult conditions. They want to maintain their daily livelihoods. Young Mohammed says, “We are doing our best. But we need a quick solution before Eid al-Fitr. This place is our daily source of income.” Shops in Al-Salam, especially in the “Al-Shamal Club” complex, are doubly affected. Sewage accumulation around them deters customers. This makes customers avoid approaching or shopping. Some small businesses have lost their regular customers. There is an urgent need for radical infrastructure improvement. Residents also noted that ongoing environmental pollution impacts the real estate market. Rental values decrease due to poor health conditions. This directly affects the local economy.
Amidst this reality, everyone hopes for swift action from competent authorities. They wish for the sewage network to be repaired. Regular water flow needs to be ensured. Streets must be cleaned. The general environment needs improvement. This would allow residents to live safely. Children could play freely. Commercial activity and the local economy would return to normal. Clean air and usable water are desired. This would be free from the environmental and health risks that Al-Salam neighborhood has suffered for years.