The humanitarian situation in Gaza is becoming increasingly dire, as many residents face the dual challenges of displacement and severe water scarcity. Since the onset of escalating hostilities nearly 22 months ago, the region’s critical water infrastructure has suffered significant damage, directly impacting public health and daily living conditions.
Prior to the conflict, Gaza was already grappling with substantial strains on its water resources. However, the sustained aerial bombardment and ground operations have exacerbated the crisis, leaving over 80 percent of the territory’s water infrastructure in disrepair. For many families, such as that of Um Nidal Abu Nahl, a mother of four living in Gaza City, the consequences are dire. Abu Nahl expressed a profound sense of desperation, highlighting the unbearable thirst experienced by her and her children, an indication of the increasingly desperate search for clean water.
Though there are intermittent deliveries of water by trucks and some non-governmental organizations have attempted to install taps in various camps, these solutions remain inadequate for the large population affected. While Israel has reconnected some water mains in northern Gaza to the Israeli water supply company Mekorot, residents report that water is still not reaching their homes. Local authorities attribute this to the extensive damage caused to Gaza’s water distribution system, as many main pipes have been destroyed during the conflict.
The Gaza City Municipality reported that sections of the network supplied by Mekorot have been dysfunctional for almost two weeks, compounding the difficulties faced by residents. Furthermore, many wells that previously served as vital water sources have been rendered unusable, either due to wartime damage or contamination from untreated sewage, exacerbated by the ongoing conflict. Access to these wells has been further restricted by their location in combat zones or near military installations, imposing significant challenges on the efforts to secure potable water.
Electric pumps are essential for accessing the groundwater, but local energy supplies have diminished since Israel ceased power deliveries to Gaza. Though generators could power these pumps, hospitals remain prioritized for the limited fuel resources. The desalination plants, crucial for providing clean water, are largely non-operational, with just a single facility reopening recently following the restoration of electricity.
The scale of damage is staggering, with reports indicating that over 75 percent of wells are inoperative, 85 percent of public works equipment is destroyed, and substantial lengths of both water and sewage lines are rendered unusable. The materials that would ensure proper waste management are highly compromised, resulting in approximately 250,000 tonnes of rubbish accumulating on Gaza’s streets.
As residents turn to the aquifer for potential water sources, they often encounter brackish water that fails to meet safe drinking standards. A 2021 report from UNICEF warned that almost the entire groundwater supply in Gaza was unfit for human consumption. Although some residents may mistakenly perceive brackish water as a viable option, aid workers stress the health risks, especially to kidneys, associated with consumption of contaminated water.
Despite receiving less media coverage compared to the ongoing hunger crisis, the water situation in Gaza poses equally grave risks to public health and wellbeing. UNICEF has emphasized the urgency of addressing water shortages, calling attention to the critical nature of this issue, especially in the face of rising temperatures and the spread of diseases. Clean water is a fundamental right and must not be used as a political tool, reinforcing the need for immediate and coordinated efforts to restore water access in the region.
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