Severe water shortages exacerbate hunger and displacement issues in Gaza
Crisis Deepens as Gaza Faces Unprecedented Water Shortage
Gaza is facing an unprecedented water crisis, with severe shortages of clean water affecting the majority of its population. The situation is so dire that it has been compared to the ongoing hunger crisis in the region by Unicef spokeswoman Rosalia Bollen.
The root of the problem lies in the naturally brackish coastal aquifer, which exceeds salinity standards for potable water. Many residents are still trying to extract groundwater directly from wells, but this only worsens the problem as hundreds of thousands of people are drinking water that is harmful to their kidneys, according to aid workers.
Some Gazans, in desperation, falsely believe that brackish water is free of bacteria. However, the truth is far from it. The UN children's agency Unicef warned in 2021 that almost all of Gaza's groundwater was unfit for consumption.
The damage to Gaza's water infrastructure, caused by nearly 22 months of war between Israel and Hamas, has been extensive. Over 80% of the territory's water systems have been destroyed, and many wells are contaminated or inaccessible due to military activity and displacement orders.
The water crisis has forced humanitarian groups to deliver limited quantities of clean, desalinated water irregularly to starving and displaced families. Efforts to alleviate the crisis include the distribution of tens of thousands of liters of desalinated water daily by organizations like the International Rescue Committee (IRC) to displaced populations in areas like Khan Younis and displacement camps.
However, supplies are irregular and insufficient without steady fuel. Some water mains in northern Gaza have been reconnected to the Israeli water company Mekorot, but damage to Gaza’s internal distribution network and frequent disruptions mean water seldom flows reliably for residents.
Health organizations such as Doctors Without Borders (MSF) operate clinics to treat people affected by waterborne diseases and malnutrition, but their efforts are hampered by repeated displacement orders that force closures near key water plants, further limiting access to water.
Calls by UN agencies and humanitarian experts emphasize the need to protect water infrastructure and scale up fuel supplies to maintain water production, sanitation, and hygiene—critical to preventing the spread of infectious diseases amid famine and mass displacement.
The situation is so dire that on July 24, a committee representing Gaza's prominent families issued a cry for help, calling for the immediate provision of water and humanitarian aid, the rapid repair of infrastructure, and a guarantee for the entry of fuel.
The crisis is intertwined with a severe food crisis, infrastructural collapse, and ongoing conflict, requiring urgent international action to secure fuel supplies, protect vital water facilities, and scale up humanitarian aid to prevent widespread starvation and disease.
In the meantime, opportunities to get clean water are rare and dangerous in Gaza. Mahmoud Deeb, 35, acknowledges that the water he finds in Gaza City is often undrinkable, but his family has no alternative. The displaced Palestinian man Akram Al Manasra and his children are collecting water from a distribution point in Gaza City, one of the few sources of clean water available.
A UAE-led project is expected to bring a 6.7-kilometre pipeline from an Egyptian desalination plant to the coastal area of Al Mawasi, in Gaza's south. However, the project is controversial within the humanitarian community, with some seeing it as a way of justifying the concentration of displaced Palestinians in southern Gaza.
In the midst of this crisis, sewage is flooding areas due to the destruction of infrastructure, and over 250,000 tonnes of rubbish are clogging the streets. The situation is a stark reminder of the urgent need for international intervention to alleviate the suffering of the people of Gaza.
[1] International Rescue Committee (IRC) [2] Doctors Without Borders (MSF) [3] United Nations Children's Fund (Unicef) [4] World Health Organization (WHO) [5] United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA)
- The water crisis in Gaza is not only a health concern, but it also has implications for the residents' careers and livelihoods, as many struggle to find clean water for their businesses, such as farming and food production.
- Amidst the increasing concerns about water, food, and health, there is a pressing need for updates from international news sources to keep the global community informed about the crisis and potential solutions. Efforts in science and technology, such as the use of desalination plants, could potentially provide long-term solutions to the water issue in Gaza.
- To ensure the long-term wellbeing of the population, it is crucial that attention is also given to the environment and the conservation of any remaining freshwater resources. In addition, creating sustainable methods for waste management, like recycling and litter clean-up, will help combat the sanitation and health issues resulting from the current crisis.
