The humanitarian crisis in Gaza is escalating as crucial desalination facilities have been shut down following Israel’s decision to cut off electricity to the region. The shutdown of these plants, which are responsible for providing clean drinking water to the population, has raised serious concerns about the worsening living conditions in Gaza.
According to reports from the Deir al-Balah municipality, two major desalination plants in the Gaza Strip are no longer operational after Israel’s power cutoff. The situation has been further compounded by the suspension of humanitarian aid, which has long been a lifeline for many residents of Gaza. The power cuts have led to fears that the already dire conditions in the region could deteriorate even further.
The Gaza Strip, home to over 2 million people, has long struggled with limited access to basic resources, including water. The region relies heavily on desalination plants to supply its residents with potable water, as fresh water sources are scarce. These desalination plants have been critical in ensuring that the population has access to clean water, despite the ongoing challenges of infrastructure damage, water pollution, and political tensions.
However, since the onset of the conflict, these plants have faced increasing pressure, with ongoing electricity shortages exacerbating the problem. Israel’s recent decision to cut off electricity supplies to Gaza, reportedly as part of its broader strategy in the region, has forced many vital services, including water treatment facilities, to shut down.
In an interview with Al Jazeera, the Mayor of Deir al-Balah, a city in the central Gaza Strip, confirmed that the power cuts had resulted in the shutdown of the two main desalination plants in the area. The Mayor expressed deep concern about the situation, stating that the people of Gaza were already facing an immense humanitarian crisis, and this latest development would only make matters worse.
“We rely on these plants for drinking water, and now that they are shut down, we are left with very limited access to clean water,” said the Mayor. “This will undoubtedly lead to more suffering for the people of Gaza, especially the most vulnerable, including children and the elderly.”
The situation has become increasingly dire as the region’s water supply has dwindled. According to Maher Ashur Salem, the Director-General of Planning, Water, and Sanitation for Gaza Municipality, the current water available in Gaza is just a fraction of what is needed to meet the population’s daily demands. In an interview with Al Jazeera, Salem explained that the amount of usable water in the region now stands at just 25% of the natural water supply.
More than 70% of Gaza’s water supply has been lost due to the destruction of water supply lines, much of it caused by Israeli airstrikes and military operations in the region. Salem warned that the situation would become even more critical if Israel decided to cut off Mekorot’s water supply. Mekorot, Israel’s national water company, provides approximately 80% of the water currently available in Gaza.
“We are already in a critical situation, and if Mekorot’s water is cut off, it could be disastrous,” Salem said. “The people of Gaza would be left without any significant access to water, and the consequences would be catastrophic for the population.”
The potential for a worsening water crisis in Gaza has raised alarm among humanitarian groups, who have long been working to provide relief to the people of Gaza. The United Nations and several international aid organizations have called for urgent action to restore power to the desalination plants and ensure that the region’s water supply is not further disrupted.
The situation is further complicated by the ongoing conflict and the blockade of the Gaza Strip, which has restricted the flow of essential supplies and aid into the region. Humanitarian workers have warned that the combination of limited water, food shortages, and inadequate medical care could lead to a full-scale humanitarian catastrophe.
