Gaza is facing a severe shortage of clean water.

They face the risk of waterborne diseases, as the clean water crisis escalates after Israel continued to deny supplies to Gaza following the Hamas offensive on October 7.

The only functioning desalination plant was shut down on Sunday due to a lack of fuel. The only functioning wastewater treatment plant was also shut down on the same day. Israel opened a southern Gaza water pipeline for three hours on Monday, but the UN aid agency said it only supplies water to about 14% of Gaza's population.

The UN on Monday estimated that water consumption in Gaza has dropped to three liters per person per day.

WHO recommends that each person should be provided with between 50 and 100 liters of water per day. For years, Gazans have not been provided with more than the minimum amount.

Photo: CNN.

The only way into Gaza is the Rafah Crossing, which is currently closed and many aid packages for millions of people are stranded. Dozens of trucks are waiting at the Egyptian border. The US has urged Egypt to establish a humanitarian corridor for Gazans and foreigners. Egypt has said efforts to open the crossing have made no progress and Israel has denied claims that arrangements have been made to open it.

Even before the war, Gazans were suffering from severe water shortages. Much of their water comes from the Coastal Aquifer, which is overexploited, contaminated with saltwater and sewage, and on the verge of disappearing completely. The water is salty and brackish. An estimated 96% of the water is unfit for human consumption.

Some people have been forced to drink seawater, which is high in salt and contaminated with untreated sewage.

Fuel shortages and air strikes have also halted many water convoys. Bottled water is limited and expensive. Most people get their drinking water from private suppliers who operate small-scale desalination plants, many powered by solar power.

In 2021, about 90% of Gazans' water consumption came from underground wells. The remaining 10% came from desalination plants or was purchased from Israel's national water company Mekorot.

Nguyen Quang Minh (according to CNN)

Source: https://www.nguoiduatin.vn/gaza-dang-thieu-nuoc-sach-tram-trong-a631876.html