Gaza Herald _Gaza City is experiencing a deepening water crisis, with municipal officials warning that available supplies have dropped dramatically amid ongoing infrastructure damage and continued restrictions on essential materials.
Tariq Shihab, head of the water department at Gaza Municipality, said the city is currently facing a water shortage of approximately 90 percent compared to its pre-war daily needs. He explained that municipal authorities are attempting to mitigate the crisis by operating privately owned wells and extending the working hours of the few remaining functional wells to ensure limited water access for residents.
However, efforts to restore damaged infrastructure remain stalled. Shihab said municipal crews are still awaiting permission to access the eastern parts of the city to inspect and repair the Mekorot water pipeline, which previously served as a major water source. Without access to the site, repair work cannot begin, further prolonging the disruption.
Municipal officials have also called for the urgent delivery of critical supplies, including cement, pipes, pumps, spare parts, and heavy machinery, all of which are necessary to repair damaged systems and maintain basic services. According to Shihab, restrictions continue to limit the entry of fuel, humanitarian assistance, and technical equipment required to sustain municipal operations.
Human rights organizations, including Human Rights Watch and Oxfam, have raised concerns about the worsening situation, accusing Israeli authorities of restricting water access to levels below the minimum required for human survival. The World Health Organization recommends a minimum of 15 to 20 liters of water per person per day to meet basic needs.
A recent report by the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics and the Palestinian Water Authority highlighted the scale of the collapse. Average daily water access per person has fallen by roughly 97 percent, dropping from 84.6 liters before the war to between just 3 and 15 liters today.
Overall, the total water supply reaching Gaza is now estimated at only 10 to 20 percent of pre-war levels. The situation remains highly unstable, as water availability depends heavily on fuel supplies needed to operate wells and desalination plants, while repeated waves of displacement have further increased demand.
Municipal officials warn that without immediate repairs, increased fuel access, and the entry of essential equipment, the water crisis could worsen significantly, leaving hundreds of thousands of residents struggling to meet even their most basic daily needs.
