Gaza faces unprecedented humanitarian crisis and water shortages

The United Nations has warned of an unprecedented humanitarian catastrophe in the Gaza Strip due to ongoing Israeli military operations and blockades. Jens Laerke, spokesperson for the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), stated that the scale of human need and the limited capacity to address it were unforeseen.

As Gaza enters its fourth winter, there is an urgent need for food, medical supplies, generator parts, and water infrastructure equipment. However, humanitarian agencies report significant difficulties in obtaining the necessary permits to deliver these essential goods in a timely manner.

Furthermore, approximately 500,000 people in Gaza are facing a reduction in drinking water. UN Secretary-General spokesperson Stephane Dujarric noted that water and sanitation services have been disrupted by restrictions on critical materials—such as spare parts and engine oil—and insufficient funding. This has led to a decline in water production at desalination plants in southern Gaza. Consequently, an estimated three out of every four families are now dependent on water transported by trucks.