Hundreds of thousands of Gaza City residents have been left without their main source of clean water following the cutting of supplies from Israel’s water utility by the Israeli army. The damage to the pipeline operated by state-owned Mekorot during the recent offensive in the eastern Shejaia neighborhood has left many residents walking long distances to get a small water fill. While Israel’s military has acknowledged the issue and stated they are working to repair the pipeline, the situation remains dire for Gaza City residents.
The loss of the northern pipeline, which supplied 70% of the city’s water since the destruction of most wells during the war, has exacerbated an already existing water crisis in Gaza. Residents, many of whom have been internally displaced by the conflict, are facing challenges in obtaining clean water for drinking, cooking, and washing. The quality of the water from the Coastal Aquifer Basin, Gaza’s only natural source of water, has been severely compromised due to salinity, over-extraction, and pollution.
The lack of functioning desalination plants, damage to water and sanitation facilities, and limited water supply rates have further worsened the situation. Palestinian and United Nations officials have raised concerns about the insufficient water supply rates in Gaza, which are well below the minimum requirement for survival in emergencies set by the World Health Organization. As residents continue to struggle to access clean water, urgent action is needed to address the water crisis in Gaza City and ensure the basic needs of its residents are met.
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