UN warns of waterborne illnesses in Gaza as clean water dwindles

The lack of safe drinking water and rising temperatures are causing a surge in waterborne diseases, residents are receiving far less water than they need, creating a dangerous situation, said the United Nations humanitarian coordinator for Gaza on Friday (April 12).

The UN official emphasised the urgent need for increased water supplies, especially in crowded areas.

"The weather is becoming very hot there," Jamie McGoldrick informed the reporters via video link from Jerusalem.

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"People are getting very less water than they are in need of, and as a result, there have been waterborne diseases due to lack of safe and clean water and the disruption of the sanitation systems."

"We have to find a way in the months ahead of how we can have a better supply of water into the areas where people are currently crowded at the moment," McGoldrick said, after making his final visit to Gaza at the end of his three-month assignment.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has highlighted the critical issue of waterborne diseases in Gaza.

Contaminated water and inadequate sanitation systems put residents at risk of illnesses like cholera, diarrhea, dysentery, and hepatitis A.

Since last year (mid-October), following the assault on Gaza in response to deadly attacks in southern Israel by Hamas, WHO has recorded more than 345,000 cases of diarrhoea, including more than 105,000 in children under 5.

The sole natural water source for the Gaza Strip is the Coastal Aquifer Basin, stretching from the northern Sinai Peninsula in Egypt along the eastern Mediterranean coast through Gaza and into Israel.

However, its quality has significantly declined over time due to excessive pumping to meet the needs of Gaza's population, surpassing the replenishment rate from rainwater.

(With inputs from agencies)