Name: U.N. warns Gazas water supply reaching crisis point
Uploaded: 2023-10-19T16:59:01.604Z
Duration: 2 min 17 s
Description: The United Nations has warned about the lack of clean and safe water for the people of Gaza. The enclave receives its supply from pipelines from Israel, desalination plants and wells. But after the Hamas attack, Israel cut off its water, fuel and electricity.

The United Nations has warned about the lack of clean and safe water for the people of Gaza. The enclave receives its supply from pipelines from Israel, desalination plants and wells. But after the Hamas attack, Israel cut off its water, fuel and electricity. 


Geneva

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Middle East Conflict

U.N. warns Gaza's water supply reaching crisis point

Gaza has been under a land, sea and air blockade for 16 years, which includes control of its resources. And in this besieged coastal enclave, water is running out fast. Israel has long sold Gaza fresh water transported through numerous pipelines, but turned off the taps after Hamas launched its attack on October 7. The UN says water production from municipal groundwater sources in Gaza is less than 5% of what it was before the war. Philippe Lazzarini, head of the UN Agency for Palestinians, has warned Gaza is running out of water and Gaza is running out of life. Access to drinking water has long been a challenge for the people of Gaza. Before the war, officials in the region were unable to provide enough water for everyone. The enclave relies on the lower section of a shallow coastal aquifer for its groundwater. And because of over-pumping, much of the water has been polluted. There were three major desalination plants that provided 7% of the water supply. They're now out of service. The Palestine Water Authority said in 2017 there were 286 desalination plants, 79% are unlicensed. A report from the human rights organization B'Tselem says 96% of Gaza's household water is undrinkable. But it's not just turning off the tap. Israel has also blocked fuel, which is desperately needed to restart pumping and treatment plants. And now water trucking operations have come to a halt because of lack of fuel and roads blocked with debris. And while bottled water is largely unavailable, small desalination plants have become the main suppliers of clean drinking water. UN staff in Gaza are now rationing water to one litre a day for each person, which does not meet the two to four litres a day recommended by scientists just for hydration. And this is the result, people desperately relying on unsafe tap water from the only aquifer which is contaminated with sewage and seawater.

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Middle East Conflict