أبرز التحديات تتمثل في تدمير 75% من الآبار ومحطة التحلية وعدم توفر الوقود

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Key Challenges: 75% of Wells and the Desalination Plant Destroyed, and Fuel Shortages

Gaza Municipality: Current Water Supply Equals Only 12% of Pre-Genocide Levels

Gaza Municipality confirmed that the current volume of water available is no more than 12% of the total supply that existed prior to the genocide. This sharp decline is the result of the destruction of approximately 75% of the city’s wells and its desalination plant in northern Gaza, in addition to severe fuel shortages and instability, fluctuations in the quantities received from the Mekorot water line, and the inability to consistently access water distribution valves. These factors have caused a major deficit in water supply, exacerbating the thirst crisis across the city and leaving many neighborhoods completely without water.

The Municipality explained that before the war, the available supply was around 120,000 cubic meters of water per day. With the onset of the genocide and the destruction of water facilities, however, this amount dropped to just 20,000 cubic meters per day a critically insufficient level compared to the city’s immense needs, particularly amid soaring temperatures and a significant rise in population due to the displacement of hundreds of thousands of residents from northern Gaza and eastern neighborhoods into western areas of the city.

The Municipality added that prior to the genocide, the Mekorot water line covered about 20% of the city’s needs, while the remaining supply came from local wells and the desalination plant. After the start of the war, however, the Mekorot line has come to account for more than 75% of the available supply, due to the destruction of most wells and water facilities, coupled with the lack of stable and sufficient fuel.

It further noted that fluctuations and interruptions in the Mekorot water supply caused at times by Israeli incursions in eastern Gaza and the halting of pumping on certain days have created a severe water crisis, particularly since the Mekorot line now represents the primary source of water for Gaza.

The Municipality emphasized that the most pressing challenges facing the water sector include the destruction of most wells and networks, the location of some functioning wells and valves in high-risk areas that are difficult to access, and the absence of reliable energy sources to operate the remaining wells.

Gaza Municipality urgently calls on international organizations to provide immediate assistance to address the city’s water crisis, alleviate civilian suffering in accessing water, and supply the necessary resources and equipment to improve water sources and increase available quantities. It also highlighted that the city’s population has grown by more than 500,000 people as a result of mass displacement