Prior to the ongoing bombardment of the Gaza Strip, human rights organizations had long warned that 97% of the area’s water was unsafe to drink. Many families in poverty were forced to spend a third or more of their income to buy water from unregulated sources, hoping it would be safe.
Now, this already dire situation has gotten exponentially worse. On October 9, Israeli officials announced that no water would be allowed to enter Gaza. By October 18, Israeli bombing had damaged at least six water wells, three water pumping stations, one water reservoir, and one desalination plant serving over 1,100,000 people. On November 4th, Israeli forces destroyed another water reservoir and a drinking water tank (OCHA). Humanitarian organizations are still not able to bring in even close to the amount of water needed, let alone deliver it without fuel or a ceasefire. Meanwhile, people are being forced to drink from contaminated sources, putting themselves at risk of infectious disease outbreaks and possible fatalities.
Water is life. The denial and destruction of it is genocide.
Special thanks to 10 Tooba for their work and partnership on this visual.
