Deepening Water Crisis in Gaza Amid Damaged Infrastructure
A deepening water crisis in Gaza City has left hundreds of thousands without access to clean water after critical infrastructure was damaged. Residents are forced to rely on scarce and often unsafe water sources as the conflict continues to erode basic services.
Published on April 12, 2025
A deepening water crisis in Gaza City continues to imperil hundreds of thousands as residents struggle to access safe drinking water. After Israeli military operations damaged the main supply pipeline—responsible for 70% of the city’s water—most local wells have been destroyed, leaving people to trek long distances for limited, often unsafe, water. Water availability has plummeted to 3-5 liters per person per day, drastically below the World Health Organization’s 15-liter emergency threshold.
Supplemental reports from late April 2025 and earlier indicate that the crisis is compounded by severe damage to water and sanitation infrastructure across Gaza. With desalination plants shutting down amid energy and fuel shortages and repair efforts hampered by ongoing conflict since October 2023, humanitarian organizations warn of escalating health risks and call for urgent action to address the deteriorating conditions in the besieged region.