The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) warned Wednesday evening of the severe thirst threatening Palestinians in the Gaza Strip with “death,” amid the collapse of water supply systems due to Israeli bombing of infrastructure and the ban on the entry of fuel since last March.
The UN agency said in a statement on Facebook that Palestinian families across Gaza “are at risk of dying of thirst amid the collapse of water supply systems.”
It continued: “Only 40 percent of drinking water production facilities are still operating, and Gaza is on the brink of a man-made drought.”
UNRWA explained that its capacity to provide water has declined to half the quantities it provided during the truce period due to the ongoing Israeli bombing, forced displacement orders, and the occupation authorities’ ban on the entry of fuel into the Strip for more than 100 days.
It stated: “Water wells have run out of fuel, water wells are located in dangerous and difficult-to-access areas, broken pipes are wasting water, and water tankers that often fail to arrive.”
She called for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza.
