Gaza Faces Worsening Water Crisis as Power Cuts Disrupt Vital Services
The humanitarian situation in Gaza has deteriorated further after Israel’s decision on Sunday to cut power to the enclave. This move, aimed at pressuring Hamas over hostage releases, has severely disrupted desalination operations, exacerbating an already dire water crisis.
Rosalia Bollen, a UNICEF representative in Gaza, reported that 600,000 people who had regained access to clean drinking water in November 2024 are once again without it. “Restoring this connection is absolutely critical for thousands of families and children,” she emphasized.
According to UN agencies, 1.8 million people—more than half of them children—are in urgent need of water, sanitation, and hygiene assistance.
At a press briefing in Geneva, Philippe Lazzarini, Commissioner-General of the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), stated that “the situation is now as dire as it was in October 2023.”
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Mass Displacement in the West Bank
Lazzarini also highlighted the escalating crisis in the occupied West Bank, where Israeli security operations have triggered the largest displacement of Palestinians since 1967.
Approximately 40,000 people, many of them refugees, have been forced to flee their homes, as entire communities are being emptied due to intensified military actions.
The Commissioner-General condemned Israel’s decision to systematically dismantle UNRWA’s operations in the West Bank and East Jerusalem. He pointed to increasing pressure from local authorities to shut down the agency’s services, alongside restrictions on international staff, many of whom have been denied entry or expelled.
He warned that ongoing efforts to undermine UNRWA—through funding suspensions, legislative restrictions, and disinformation campaigns—pose a severe threat to regional stability.
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Urgent Calls for Aid Access
UN Humanitarian Coordinator Muhannad Hadi called for the immediate resumption of lifesaving aid deliveries, warning that any further delays will reverse progress made during the ceasefire.
Lazzarini also stressed the need for a political solution to prevent further escalation, referencing ongoing diplomatic efforts led by Saudi Arabia, the European Union, and the League of Arab States to implement a two-state solution and ensure humanitarian services transition to Palestinian-led institutions.
“When there is political will, humanitarian assistance can flow without obstruction,” he asserted.
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UNRWA Facing Severe Funding Crisis
Amid the escalating crisis, UNRWA is struggling with serious financial shortfalls, worsened by funding cuts from key donor countries.
Lazzarini urged UN Member States to continue supporting UNRWA until a political solution is established, cautioning that premature funding cuts would further fuel demands for Palestinian resettlement or return.
“The rights of Palestinian refugees exist regardless of the agency,” he emphasized, warning that dismantling UNRWA without a viable alternative would only deepen the suffering of civilians.
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