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In the last week, the ongoing military actions in Gaza City have resulted in severe water shortages, leaving hundreds of thousands of residents without access to clean water. Officials from the Gaza municipal authorities have reported that the Israeli military’s intensified operations have led to the disruption of water supplies previously provided by the Israeli state-owned utility, Mekorot.
As a result of the bombardment in the Shejaiya neighborhood, crucial water pipelines were damaged, forcing many residents to embark on long treks to find water. Faten Nassar, a 42-year-old local woman, expressed her desperation, stating, “Since morning, I have been waiting for water. There are no stations, no trucks coming. The crossings are closed. God willing, the war will end safely and peacefully.”
The military’s campaign in Shejaiya included an order for residents to evacuate, claiming operations were aimed at removing perceived “terror infrastructure” following the deaths of a senior militant leader. As the conflict escalates, Mekorot’s pipeline, which previously supplied around 70% of Gaza City’s water, is now inoperative. This has amplified the already critical situation as many residents struggle to meet their daily water requirements.
Mounting Water Crisis
The humanitarian situation continues to deteriorate for Gaza’s 2.3 million residents, many of whom have been displaced and are depending on the limited functioning wells in less accessible areas. Unfortunately, even those wells often fail to provide safe drinking water. Water scarcity has forced residents to reassess their daily routines, turning the basic necessity of water into a rare commodity.
This crisis escalated after a deadly assault by the Palestinian militant group Hamas in October 2023, which killed around 1,200 people in Israel and resulted in the capture of approximately 250 hostages. In retaliation, Israeli military operations have reportedly led to the deaths of over 50,800 Palestinians according to local authorities.
In the enduring quest for water, many residents are compelled to stand in line for hours, only to receive a single fill that often falls short of their needs. Adel Al-Hourani, a 64-year-old resident, lamented, “I walk long distances. I get tired. I am old, I’m not young to walk around every day to get water.”
Failure of Water Infrastructure
The Coastal Aquifer Basin, Gaza’s only natural water source, has been critically damaged due to over-extraction, salinity, and pollution, with an estimated 97% of its groundwater becoming unsafe for human consumption. The Palestinian Water Authority has indicated that many of its water wells are no longer operational due to the extensive damage inflicted by the conflict.
A joint statement from the Palestinian Bureau of Statistics and the Water Authority highlighted that over 85% of Gaza’s water and sanitation facilities are currently out of service. The situation is dire; it has been reported that the remaining operational desalination plants have either suffered damage or have ceased to function completely due to the lack of power and fuel supplies.
The average water supply has plummeted to levels as low as three to five liters per person per day, far below the World Health Organization’s minimum requirement of 15 liters in emergencies.
Food and Medical Supplies Depleted
Over six weeks have passed since Israel halted all supplies to the beleaguered Gaza Strip, where food reserves are dwindling after being exhausted since the last ceasefire. The ongoing conflict has left grocery stores barren, and emergency food distributions are tapering off.
Hani Abu-Al Qasim, a food distribution officer in Khan Younis, stated that his organization is running out of food supplies. “People are coming to us as a last resort,” he remarked. Residents are anxious about the uncertainty of their food security, with Ahmed Abu Daqqa sharing that many civilians wait in line for hours, often leaving empty-handed, contributing to the suffering.
Adding to this distress, medical supplies are critically low, posing challenges to hospitals’ ability to function. The World Health Organization has warned about severe shortages of essential items like antibiotics, IV fluids, and blood bags, further compounding the dire humanitarian situation in the region.
Source
www.cbc.ca