Gaza Herald— Gaza City is facing a severe water crisis, with around one million residents and displaced people suffering from thirst amid widespread destruction of infrastructure and critical shortages of fuel and supplies because of the Israeli suffocation closure, municipal officials said.
A spokesperson for Gaza Municipality, Hosni Mhanna, described the situation as the worst in the city’s history, warning that the continued lack of fuel, oils, and spare parts threatens to shut down the remaining operational wells and pumping stations.
Speaking in an interview on Sunday, Mhanna said the water deficit in Gaza City has reached approximately 70 percent.
Before the Israeli genocidal war, the city required about 100,000 cubic meters of water per day to meet demand.
Currently, only around 30,000 cubic meters are available.
He attributed the crisis to extensive damage to water infrastructure during the ongoing Israeli genocide, including the destruction of 85 percent of central wells and more than 150 kilometers of water networks.
The main desalination plant, which once provided about 10 percent of the city’s water supply, is also no longer functioning.
As a result, large segments of the population are forced to wait for hours, sometimes days, to obtain limited amounts of water.
Mhanna said the situation has been worsened by fuel shortages needed to operate wells and pumping stations, as well as restrictions on the entry of essential equipment such as pumps, generators, pipes, spare parts, and water treatment materials.
He also pointed to reduced water supplies from external sources and a sharp increase in population due to displacement.
According to the municipality, at least 72 wells have been put out of service due to direct damage or lack of fuel and maintenance, while damage to distribution networks has led to significant water losses and disrupted supply to many neighborhoods.
Infrastructure damage has also reduced production capacity to less than one-third of actual needs, making it difficult to deliver water, particularly to heavily affected areas.
The presence of more than 25 million tons of rubble and destroyed roads has further hindered maintenance teams and water delivery trucks.
The destruction of 135 municipal vehicles and the ongoing electricity crisis, exacerbated by a lack of fuel, industrial oils, and spare parts, have added to the challenges.
Residents in many areas now receive between 10 and 20 liters of water per person per day, far below the minimum 80 to 100 liters recommended by the World Health Organization for basic needs. In many cases, water is only sufficient for the most essential uses, forcing families to ration consumption.
Officials warned that the shortage poses serious health risks, including the spread of diseases linked to poor hygiene and sanitation.
Limited water access also affects cooking, cleaning, and overall living conditions, while fuel shortages continue to halt operations at many water facilities.
Despite limited resources, the municipality says it is working to operate all functioning wells and distribute water through an emergency system aimed at ensuring fairness across neighborhoods.
Water is also being delivered to displacement camps using trucks when network supply is not possible.
Authorities are coordinating with international organizations to secure fuel and support the water sector while attempting temporary solutions such as using solar energy or generators where available.
More than 1,100 privately owned wells are also being utilized with limited fuel supplies.
Mhanna called for urgent international intervention to prevent a worsening humanitarian crisis, including ensuring the protection of water facilities, allowing the regular entry of fuel and equipment, and supporting the rehabilitation of damaged infrastructure.
He stressed the need for immediate financial and technical assistance to restore water services and enable municipalities to import the heavy machinery required for repairs and debris removal.
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