Gaza water shortage worsens health crisis for families

Ibtisam Al‑Helou, a 40‑year‑old mother in Gaza, leaves her seafront tent each pre‑dawn to search for fresh water, often trekking across Gaza City. She reports receiving water only once every three days, forcing her family of nine children to wash once a week.

The scarcity has sparked a broader humanitarian emergency: UN agencies and Palestinian health officials warn that Gaza's water and sanitation systems are collapsing. Untreated sewage is contaminating the coastal aquifer, the enclave’s sole natural water source, leaving over half the 1.3 million residents with less than six litres of water per day. Children face increased risks of diarrhoea, skin infections and other diseases, while families must pay for medical treatment after swimming in the sea to cool off.