Less than 7% of pre-conflict water levels available in Gaza, Oxfam warns

Israel has destroyed 1,675 kilometres of water and sanitation networks in Gaza leaving a “dangerously critical” situation for Palestinians in the enclave, Oxfam warned yesterday.

“In North Gaza and Rafah governorates, which have suffered the most destruction, less than seven per cent of pre-conflict water levels is available to people, heightening the spread of waterborne diseases,” it added.

Warning against a restart of bombing, Oxfam said: “Any renewed violence or disruption to fuel and the already inadequate aid would trigger a full-scale public health disaster.”

Oxfam’s Humanitarian Coordinator in Gaza, Clemence Lagouardat, said: “Now that the bombs have stopped, we have only just begun to grasp the sheer scale of destruction to Gaza’s water and sanitation infrastructure. Most vital water and sanitation networks have been entirely lost or paralyzed, creating catastrophic hygiene and health conditions.”

In the North Gaza governorate, almost all water wells have been destroyed by Israeli occupation forces. Over 700,000 people have returned to find entire neighbourhoods wiped out. For the few whose homes remain standing, water is non-existent due to the destruction of rooftop storage tanks, Oxfam explained.

In Rafah, over 90 per cent of water wells and reservoirs have been partially or completely damaged, and water production is less than five per cent of its capacity before the conflict. Only two out of 35 wells are currently operational.

Oxfam added that “Despite efforts to resume water production since the ceasefire, the destruction of Gaza’s water pipelines means that 60 per cent of water is leaking into the ground rather than reaching people.”

READ: Gaza Electricity Company estimates war losses at $450m

The lack of safe water, combined with untreated sewage overflowing in the streets has triggered an explosion of waterborne and infectious diseases. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), 88 per cent of environmental samples surveyed across Gaza were found contaminated with polio, signalling an imminent risk of outbreak. Infectious diseases including acute watery diarrhoea and respiratory infections – now the leading causes of death – are also surging, with 46,000 cases, mostly children, being reported each week.

Lagouardat said: “Israel continues to severely impair critical items needed to begin repairing the massive structural damage from its air strikes. This includes desperately needed pipes for repairing water and sanitation networks, equipment like generators to operate wells.”

The charity added that its own water pipes, fittings and water tanks had been held up for over six months, they have now been approved for entry into the enclave, however, they have not entered yet.