By Anera
Gaza was almost completely devoid of potable drinking water even before the conflict. A polluted aquifer and a small number of desalination units were used to meet local demands. The result is that Gazan water, 97% of it, cannot be used for drinking.
Prior to the war, Palestinians living in Gaza and the West Bank had only 80 liters per day. This was below the 100-liter standard set by WHO. The average daily consumption of water in Gaza for all uses has dropped to two or three liters per person since the beginning of the conflict. Most of the water in Gaza is not clean and unsafe to drink.
This is how much water you use when flushing a toilet.
Drinking three liters of water is all that a person should drink to prevent health issues related to dehydration. This includes organ failure and damage!
Gazans are forced to drink brackish seawater water due to the failure of Gaza’s wastewater system, which was caused by Israeli airstrikes and fuel shortages. The most common signs of illness caused by contaminated water are abdominal pain, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting and fever. These illnesses are more common in children.
Water scarcity and overcrowding in a healthcare system on the verge of collapse are causing a rise in communicable diseases. There is only one toilet for every 600 people in some of the overcrowded refugee camps.
Gaza was completely blocked off for the first two week of the conflict. Nothing entered the area. Only 650 trucks crossed the border since October 21 when the external aid finally entered Gaza. This is slightly more than the daily number of trucks that used to enter Gaza before the war. No truck has so far brought the fuel required to keep Gaza’s hospitals and healthcare facilities operational and power its water network.
Some trucks instead shipped jerrycans and bottled water across the border. Water that’s been brought in to date only covers the daily needs of 15,000-66,000 Gazans, which is 0.6-2.6% of Gazans. This aid is only available in the southern part of Gaza. This is like applying a bandaid to an amputated leg.
Airstrikes are continuing to damage critical infrastructure. Bombs were dropped on seven water reservoirs across Gaza between November 4 and 5, including those in Gaza City and Jabalia Refugee Camp, as well as Rafah, which lies in the so-called “safe zone” where people are being forced to flee. While some desalination and water wells in southern Gaza are still operational, fuel shortages continue to curtail or shut them down. It is only a question of time until all facilities are shut down if they don’t get fuel.
UNOCHA reports serious leakage problems on two pipelines that are still operational in Israel. UNOCHA reports serious leakage issues with one pipeline.
The primary way to distribute water in Gaza is by truck, but this method has become more challenging as the roads have been destroyed and there are no fuel supplies.
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