Water scarcity grips Gaza.
After the economical siege, the continuous military threats from the Israeli occupation forces and with no power supply, the people of Gaza are living in tough conditions; however, international reports are discussing Israel’s attempts to limit water supply.
Last week’s shutdown of Gaza’s only functioning power plant creates even more urgency, with the water utility warning that it does not have the fuel to run water and sanitation facilities when the power is off.
Almost 3,000 items needed to build infrastructure to meet the demand for water and sanitation are still waiting for approval to enter through the mechanism, which requires Israeli approval of projects as well as individual items.
Recent research by Oxfam found that just 16% of items submitted for approval through the Gaza Reconstruction Mechanism (GRM) for the water sector have actually made it into Gaza, a damning success rate that mirrors the dynamics of the blockade itself.
In the wake of the devastation in Gaza in 2014, the UN brokered an agreement — the Gaza Reconstruction Mechanism (GRM) — between the Palestinian Authority and the government of Israel, so construction materials could enter Gaza more easily.
This has helped repair most of the water and sanitation infrastructure that was damaged almost three years ago.
The Water Authority in Gaza warned of the gravity of the electricity crisis on the water and sanitation system in the Gaza Strip and stressed that the repeated power outages foreshadow a real crisis.
If funding for fuel is not secured immediately, Gaza’s 14 public hospitals will be forced to partially or completely close essential services, putting thousands of patient lives at risk, according to the World Health Organisation.
The spokesperson of the health ministry said the Palestinian hospitals are in a dire situation due to the power and fuel shortage which led to operating the second level of generators in hospitals.