Gaza Water Authority warns of worse humanitarian crisis if water shortage continues
Gaza Water Authority crews say their teams are distributing limited water supplies through tankers as part of an emergency plan to meet the basic needs of residents, Wafa reports.
In a statement, the authority said its efforts are continuing in cooperation with international organisations despite the lack of equipment and challenges in the enclave. It also warned of a worsening humanitarian crisis if the water shortage continues.
It stressed that the priority at this stage is to ensure access to safe and usable water.
Still, the organisation called on the international community and humanitarian groups to provide support to accelerate the repair of water infrastructure in Khan Younis and other areas of the enclave.
Up to 70 million tonnes of rubble, 20,000 unexploded ordnances in Gaza: Media Office
There is between 65 and 70 million tonnes of rubble and debris in Gaza, according to Gaza’s Government Media Office.
“This rubble includes thousands of homes, facilities, and vital infrastructures deliberately destroyed by the [Israeli] occupation forces, turning the [Gaza] Strip into an environmentally and structurally devastated area and obstructing the delivery of humanitarian aid and relief efforts,” the office said in a statement.
“The process of removing this massive rubble faces severe obstacles, most notably the lack of heavy equipment and machinery due to the Israeli occupation’s ban on their entry, the complete closure of border crossings, and the deliberate prevention of bringing in the materials and machinery necessary to recover the bodies of victims,” it added.
The office urged Israel to open the crossings and begin the removal process.
“Preliminary estimates also indicate the presence of about 20,000 unexploded ordnances, including bombs and missiles dropped by the Israeli army, posing a grave threat to the lives of civilians and field workers. These remnants require specialised engineering and security handling before any removal or reconstruction work can begin,” the office also said.
