Israel’s Blockade Creates a Dire Water Shortage in Gaza
The ongoing conflict between Israel and Gaza has led to severe consequences for the people living in the region. Amidst the violence and destruction, a deadly water crisis has emerged, leaving millions of Palestinians on the verge of dehydration.
Israel’s defense minister, Yoav Gallant, announced a comprehensive blockade on October 9, effectively cutting off the supply of essential resources such as electricity, food, fuel, and most critically, water. The blockade has caused immense suffering, with families like Abu Muhammed’s facing extreme difficulties in accessing clean water.
Abu Muhammed, who lives in the city of Khan Younis in southern Gaza, has not only been dealing with the relentless bombardment but also the challenge of providing water for his own family and three other families seeking refuge in his home. With Israel’s warnings and threats, many have been forced to flee their homes in northern Gaza, resulting in overcrowded living conditions in the south.
Now, approximately 45 people, including 15 extended family members, are residing in Abu Muhammed’s home, all facing the imminent risk of dehydration. The fuel shortages and electricity crisis have disrupted the distribution of water from groundwater wells to homes. Additionally, the delivery of water from desalination plants via trucks has nearly come to a halt.
As a result, Abu Muhammed struggles to fill the tanks of his home, which largely relies on rooftop storage for water. However, this process requires electricity to power the pumps that transfer water to the tanks, a scarce resource in the area. On one occasion, he managed to fill the tanks by connecting to his neighbor’s generator for a brief period, providing temporary relief. But given the ongoing uncertainty, he is unsure if he will be able to repeat this method.
Desperate for water, displaced individuals now seek refuge in a school located in Gaza City’s Beach refugee camp. The school, run by the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), serves as a shelter from the artillery shells and missiles fired by Israel. In their quest for water, they roam the streets early in the morning, hoping for assistance.
Sami, who is currently sheltering in the school with his eight family members, experienced several days without access to water. He resorted to asking strangers he encountered on the streets to help, and eventually managed to fill a large container with water from generous families after a long journey.
Sami, a farmer who owns land in Beit Hanoun, in northern Gaza, has witnessed the destruction brought upon his community by continuous Israeli bombardment. With their agricultural lands devastated and their lives upended, access to water has become a distant dream for Sami and many others.
Muneera, who chose to stay in the Sheikh Radwan area despite her neighbors evacuating, faces a dire situation as the family’s water supply is rapidly depleting. In a last-ditch effort to survive, Muneera sought permission from her neighbors to use the water from their tanks. However, she emphasizes that it was a desperate measure, as their neighbors’ tanks were also running dry.
To conserve water, Muneera and her children have refrained from bathing for weeks, and in the kitchen, they minimize their water usage by utilizing plastic dishes. The situation is dire, and without intervention, the consequences will be devastating.
It is imperative to recognize that the ongoing conflict not only poses a threat to lives through direct attacks but also through hunger and thirst. As Israel continues its bombardment on Gaza, the death toll continues to rise, while the risk of dehydration and malnutrition looms over the entire population.
The situation demands urgent attention and immediate international intervention to address the severe water shortage in Gaza. Access to clean water is a fundamental human right, and it is crucial to ensure that innocent civilians are not left to suffer the devastating consequences of this crisis.
