Total bottled water delivered into Gaza so far is equivalent to less than half a gallon per person
The amount of water available to people trapped in Gaza will still be just 17 percent of pre-siege levels, despite the Israeli government announcing that two trucks of fuel will now be allowed in each day, Oxfam warned. Current fuel levels have made water treatment, pumping and distribution virtually impossible. All water, fuel and food to Gaza was cut off by the siege implemented by the Israeli government on 9 October.
Over 90 million gallons of total water were available in Gaza via groundwater wells and pipelines before the siege. Currently, only 15 million gallons - less than a fifth - is available. Without fuel, this would drop to less than 7 million gallons - seven percent. The total water is for both municipal and domestic use. The bare minimum international standard in an emergency is 4 gallons per person, per day. People are already having to survive on rationing less than a gallon a day for all water use and are resorting to drinking sea and untreated water.
Analysis shows that the total bottled water delivered since aid trucks were allowed into Gaza via the Rafah crossing on 21 October to 12 November is equivalent to less than half a gallon per person. No aid has entered via the Rafah crossing since 14 November, despite a small amount of fuel allowed in on Wednesday for exclusive UN truck use.
Oxfam is a member of the UN water and sanitation cluster with other international aid agencies in the Occupied Palestinian Territory. Analysis from the cluster outlines the devastating impact of no fuel on Gaza’s water supply and availability. If fuel runs out, the only water supply into Gaza is via two Israeli pipelines that would provide just seven per cent of the pre-war quantities of water, in a best-case scenario. There has also been significant damage reported to water and sanitation infrastructure across Gaza: out of 592 facilities, 263 - nearly half - are reported to be potentially damaged by airstrikes.
Gastroenteritis and dehydration are spreading and the risk of water borne disease is rife. Oxfam partner Juzoor is working in the north of Gaza and in Gaza City supporting people living in temporary shelters. They said the lack of water is a major problem, with contaminated water causing a lot of health issues, particularly among children. An Oxfam member of staff in Gaza said: “The water is disgusting, most people are having to drink brackish water from wells. There is no electricity, so we have to fill buckets and carry up to the roof tank. Our whole family are sick with diarrhea.”
Over 70 percent of the population – 1.6 million people – are displaced, 795,000 of whom are crowded into 154 UN shelters. Over 30,000 children in the shelters are already reported to be sick with dehydration and malnutrition and thousands of cases of acute respiratory infections, diarrhea and chicken pox have been reported among people taking refuge. The humanitarian situation is increasingly dire:
- Prior to the siege, over 343,000 gallons of industrial and vehicle fuel and 366 metric tons of cooking gas would enter Gaza every day.
- Just 1,121 trucks of aid have entered the Gaza Strip in the 40 days since 9 October. This is estimated to have met the needs of just 3,000 to 5,000 people a day.
- Many supermarkets across Gaza are no longer able to stock bottled water, bread or even canned food which many people have been falling back on to survive.
- The last functioning mill in Gaza was reportedly destroyed on 15 November which means that locally produced flour will no longer be available.
- Oxfam partners supporting families sheltering in community centers confirmed that in some shelters, more than 3,000 people are sharing just 10 toilets between them.
“Across Gaza, already scarce resources like water, food, and medicine are completely dried up, leaving people to drink contaminated water and survive on the last canned food and scraps. Parents are going hungry to give whatever they can find to feed their children, and in many cases are forced to give them dirty water to drink. Now, in addition to the threats of violence, the threats of succumbing to diarrhea and other diseases from lack of clean water and sanitation are looming large. The denial of these vital goods is a breach of international law in a long list of actions taken with impunity by Israel and Palestinian armed groups. We cannot be distracted by counting aid or fuel trucks when the crisis is massive and growing. Any aid or fuel is better than none, but the real solutions right now are bigger than that. We need a ceasefire, the resumption of essential services, the return of all hostages, and crucially - accountability for all as a foundation for peace, dignity, and safety of Palestinians and Israelis,” said Abby Maxman, President and CEO of Oxfam America.
Oxfam is calling for an immediate ceasefire, the release of all hostages without conditions and full access for the delivery of humanitarian aid via both Israel and Egypt.
/ENDS