Israel Cuts Power to Two Gaza Desalination Plants – Thousands Deprived of Water
1. Critical Water Supply Disrupted
- Israel has cut off power to the South Sea Desalination Plant and the Basra Desalination Plant in Deir Al-Balah, central Gaza.
- These plants produce 20,000 cubic meters of desalinated water daily, supplying about 70% of the area's residents.
- Thousands of Palestinians now face severe water shortages as a result.
2. Escalating Humanitarian Crisis
- Maher Ashour Salem, Gaza’s Director General of Planning, Water, and Sanitation, warned that available water in the Strip is now less than 25% of normal levels.
- More than 70% of Gaza’s water infrastructure has been destroyed due to Israeli military actions.
- If Israel further cuts off the remaining 80% of the water supply, a humanitarian catastrophe is imminent.
3. Devastating Impact on Daily Life
- The loss of desalinated water will cripple hospitals, shelters, and homes, with no reliable alternatives.
- More than three-quarters of Gaza’s water wells have been destroyed, making it nearly impossible to meet the population’s needs.
- People are at risk of dehydration, disease outbreaks, and worsening living conditions.
4. Aid Blockade and Political Context
- The decision to cut power came a day after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu halted the entry of humanitarian aid into Gaza.
- This occurred right after the first phase of a ceasefire with Hamas ended.
- Hamas condemned the aid blockade, calling it "a war crime" and urging the international community to intervene.
5. Calls for International Action
- Human rights organizations and humanitarian groups are warning of massive human suffering due to the lack of water and aid.
- The situation underscores the dire need for international pressure to prevent further deterioration of conditions in Gaza.
- Without urgent intervention, millions of people face a worsening humanitarian disaster.
Source:
https://www.palestinechronicle.com/israel-cuts-power-to-two-gaza-desalination-plants-thousands-deprived-of-water/
Comments