عربي
Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics (PCBS)
"An environmental catastrophe threatens livelihoods in Gaza Strip"
Ramallah: 16/11/2023 – 12:00 Palestine Time.
Each person in Gaza Strip has access to 1-3 liters of water per day
Gaza Strip is suffering from a severe crisis and needs to obtain water. Prior to October 7, the average per capita of water consumption of approximately 82.7 liters per person/day. However, and since the beginning of the Israeli Occupation Aggression, this figure has dropped to only 1-3 liters per person/day. This Israeli aggression has led to a decrease of 90% in the availability of water sources, resulting in drop of 92% in water consumption compared to pre-aggression levels. This dire situation underscores the devastating impact of the aggression on the water infrastructure, with around 55% of the water supply systems in urgent need of repair or rehabilitation in Gaza Strip.
Status Water Sources in Gaza Strip, 12/11/2023
|
% Of Reduction |
% Of Available water |
During Aggression Capacity (M3/Day) |
% Of Water Resource |
Pre Aggression Capacity (M3/Day) |
Water Sources |
|
|
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
|
47.0 |
53.0 |
26,880 |
14.0 |
51,000 |
Mekorot (Israel) |
|
|
98.0 |
2.0 |
300 |
5.0 |
18,000 |
Desalination Plants |
|
|
97.0 |
3.0 |
10,000 |
81.0 |
300,000 |
Water Wells |
|
|
90.0 |
10.0 |
37,180 |
100.0 |
369,000 |
Total |
|
Source: WASH Cluster, State of Palestine
Absence and limited access to safe and sustainable water in Gaza
Population in Gaza Strip is suffering from a severe crisis regarding the access to safe water many years ago due to the Israeli siege on Gaza . Whereas, before the Israeli aggression, during period before October 7, only 4% of Gaza population had access to safe and clean water.
Currently, and with the continuous aggression on Gaza as of the 7th of October, and the lack of fuel needed to operate water desalination plants and water well pumps, people are suffering to get water, any water at all not only safe water.
Only one water desalination plant located in south of Gaza is working with an operating capability reached 5%, while the other two plants are not working due to power outages and lack of fuel.
Status of the Operational Capacity for all Water Desalination Plant in Gaza Strip, 12/11/2023
|
% Of Operational Reduction |
% Of Operational Capacity |
Functioning Now |
Capacity m3/d |
Desalination Plant |
City |
Governorate |
|
|
|
|||||||
|
|
|||||||
|
100 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
10,000 |
Gaza Desalination Plant |
Gaza |
Gaza |
|
|
100 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
6,000 |
Deir AL-Balah Desalination Plant |
Deir AL-Balah |
Deir AL-Balah |
|
|
95.0 |
5.0 |
300.0 |
6,000 |
South Gaza Desalination Plant |
Khan Yunis |
Khan Yunis |
|
Source: WASH Cluster, State of Palestine
All wastewater treatment plants are fully suspended in Gaza Strip
Due to the complete destruction of infrastructure by the Israeli aggression in Gaza Strip since October 7, there are about 65 sewage pumps stopped working, and all six wastewater treatment plants have been completely shut down due to power outages and fuel shortages. Thus, influx of about 130,000 Cubic meters per day of untreated wastewater into the Mediterranean Sea in Gaza Strip.
Status of the Operational Capacity for Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) in Gaza Strip, 12/11/2023
|
% Of Operational Reduction |
% Of Operational Capacity |
Functioning Now |
Capacity m3/d |
Wastewater Treatment Plant |
City |
Governorate |
|
|
|
|||||||
|
|
|||||||
|
100 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
35,000 |
North Gaza WWTP |
Jabalia |
North Gaza |
|
|
100 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
40,000 |
Beit Lahia WWTP |
Beit Lahia |
|
|
|
100 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
65,000 |
Shiekh Ejleen WWTP |
Gaza |
Gaza |
|
|
100 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
60,000 |
Central Gaza (Buriej) WWTP |
Buriej |
Deir AL-Balah |
|
|
100 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
26,500 |
Khan Yunis WWTP |
Fukhari |
Khan Yunis |
|
|
100 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
23,000 |
Rafah WWTP |
Rafah |
Rafah |
|
Source: WASH Cluster, State of Palestine.
Waste Piling/stacking in Gaza Strip
the ongoing Israeli occupation aggression on Gaza Strip and the lack of fuel, forced the solid waste collection vehicles to be out of service, and so the sanitary landfills. The service of waste collection rate before the war was estimated to be 98%, collected in sanitary landfills.
But, during the war, solid waste collection service has decreased to less than 20%, and so a large quantity of wastes has piled in the streets and around shelter centers, schools, and in some temporary landfills.
It is worth mentioning that the medical wastes have been mixed with other wastes, which will cause a health and environmental disaster.