New York: Gaza is facing a rapidly intensifying water crisis as ongoing Israeli military operations and the resulting mass displacement of residents continue to strain already limited resources. Fuel shortages have crippled the region's ability to operate essential water purification systems, pushing Gaza’s population closer to a humanitarian catastrophe.
According to a statement released by the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), its partners have warned that without an immediate delivery of fuel, all water and sanitation services could shut down completely by the end of this week.
In early March, shortly after Israel imposed a blockade on aid to Gaza, electricity lines powering one of Gaza's main water desalination plants were severed. The Israeli administration has stated that these actions aim to pressure Hamas into releasing remaining hostages.
While Israel has since announced that it will permit the entry of basic supplies into Gaza, fuel is still excluded. The UN has managed to deliver potable water via dozens of aid trucks that have entered the territory, but distribution of this aid has yet to begin.
At Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City, nephrologist Dr. Ghazi El-Yazji reported a surge in patients suffering from infections and illnesses linked to contaminated water. “We don’t have exact figures, but the number of children affected is growing,” he said.
Even before the war, Gaza struggled with water shortages and poor water quality. Now, Dr. El-Yazji says that 220 patients require dialysis treatment, and the water crisis is worsening their condition. Tragically, some of these patients have already died.
As the conflict rages on, the lack of access to clean water is not just a crisis—it's a matter of life and death.
[Human Online, BBC]
