Home / Environment / Water crisis grips Gaza: Thirst and disease loom
Water crisis grips Gaza: Thirst and disease loom
21 Jul
Summary
- Gaza faces unprecedented water and sanitation system collapse.
- Children risk infection and disease from poor hygiene and dirty water.
- Wastewater seeps into Gaza's sole freshwater source, exacerbating crisis.
Gaza is grappling with a severe water and sanitation crisis, threatening the health and well-being of its population. Residents, like Ibtisam Al-Helou, spend hours searching for basic necessities as piped water is scarce, often receiving it only once every three days. This scarcity impacts daily routines, with children lucky to wash once a week.
Health officials warn of an impending environmental disaster as untreated sewage pollutes Gaza's coastal aquifer, the territory's only natural freshwater source. Aid agencies report a drastic drop in daily water consumption, from 85 litres per person pre-war to as little as 4.3 litres. This leads to widespread skin diseases, respiratory infections, and diarrhoea.
The conflict has severely damaged Gaza's water infrastructure, destroying about 80% of the distribution network and most desalination capacity. Although Israel states it does not target essential infrastructure, the damage is extensive. Water trucks struggle to navigate rubble-strewn paths, and aid agencies emphasize that these are insufficient replacements for a functional public water system.
The collapse of sanitation systems has compounded the crisis, with hundreds of thousands of cesspits discharging untreated wastewater. This situation is described as the worst Gaza has ever experienced, with potential long-term consequences lasting for decades.
