The Director General of the Planning and Investment Unit at Gaza Municipality, Engineer Maher Salem, confirmed that the Gaza Strip has entered a critical phase of its water crisis, warning that nearly one million displaced people in Gaza City are facing catastrophic humanitarian conditions due to the severe shortage of potable water.
In a statement to a news network, Salem explained that rising temperatures and the shutdown of a large number of water wells due to the lack of fuel, oil, and filters needed to operate generators have exacerbated the suffering of residents. He pointed out that the currently available water quantities do not meet even the minimum humanitarian needs.
He stated that international standards and the World Health Organization recommend providing at least 100 liters of water per person per day, while residents of the Gaza Strip currently receive only between 10 and 15 liters at best, with some residents in Gaza City receiving no more than two liters per day.
He added that residents are now forced to choose between using water for drinking, personal hygiene, and basic household needs, given the severe shortage of available water.
Salem pointed out that Gaza City is among the most affected areas due to its high population density, with over a million people living in an area that constitutes no more than 35% of the city’s original size. This places immense pressure on the already dilapidated infrastructure.
He warned that the ongoing water crisis and the decline in sanitation services increase the likelihood of disease outbreaks and epidemics. He noted that numerous cases of illness have been recorded, linked to the deterioration of personal and environmental hygiene, in addition to the spread of rodents and insects and the worsening problem of foul odors resulting from sewage overflows.
