Gaza Herald_ The World Health Organization has raised concerns over the deteriorating quality of water in Gaza and the growing risk of disease outbreaks as the winter season approaches.
Reinhilde Van de Weerdt, the WHO representative for the occupied Palestinian territory, said during a weekly press briefing in Geneva that the worsening condition of Gaza’s water supply was becoming increasingly alarming.
“What is extremely worrying for us is that the quality of the water is deteriorating,” she said.
Van de Weerdt pointed to a sharp increase in microbiological contamination this year, saying contamination levels have nearly tripled while Gaza’s ability to conduct laboratory testing remains severely limited.
She said authorities can currently test for and monitor only the most essential microbiological contaminants affecting water and the surrounding environment.
Of more than 6,500 water samples tested, contamination rose from just under 6% in January to nearly 20% in August, according to the WHO representative.
At the same time, cases of acute watery diarrhea have increased dramatically. Van de Weerdt said reported cases nearly doubled, rising from around 30,000 in March to more than 58,000 in August.
The deterioration comes as Gaza continues to grapple with widespread destruction, enormous quantities of rubble, overcrowded displacement sites, accumulated garbage and damaged sewage systems.
Winter Threatens to Worsen the Crisis
With heavy rains and colder weather approaching, health officials fear that Gaza’s already fragile sanitation system could come under even greater pressure.
Van de Weerdt warned that flooding in densely populated areas could carry sewage, waste and contaminated water into the places where displaced Palestinians sleep, prepare food and care for their families.
“The rains and the winter are just around the corner,” she said, warning that flooding could spread contamination throughout overcrowded communities.
Standing water could also create breeding grounds for mosquitoes and other pests, adding another layer of health risks.
Meanwhile, damaged and poorly ventilated tents could become damp and develop mold during the winter months, potentially increasing respiratory illnesses, particularly among young children.
The WHO representative stressed that preventing outbreaks must now be a priority.
She said protecting the limited health gains that remain in Gaza will require preventing disease outbreaks before they spread and strengthening the ability to quickly identify the causes of any suspected outbreak.
Amputees Face a Lack of Essential Support
The health crisis extends beyond infectious diseases and water contamination.
Van de Weerdt also highlighted the difficulties faced by thousands of people who have lost limbs during the war and now require long-term medical care and assistive equipment.
More than 6,600 people in Gaza are estimated to need long-term support following amputations, yet many struggle to obtain prosthetic and other essential assistive devices.
According to Van de Weerdt, none of the equipment needed to help people, including children, walk and regain some measure of independence and dignity has entered Gaza since May 2024.
The absence of such equipment leaves amputees facing additional barriers to mobility, rehabilitation and daily life in an already devastated environment.
Calls for Greater Humanitarian Access
The WHO is calling for medical supplies to enter Gaza quickly and without obstruction, along with materials needed to provide more durable shelter.
It is also urging the restoration of reliable access to clean water and improved waste-management systems to reduce the risk of further contamination and disease.
The warnings come as Gaza’s healthcare system remains severely weakened after nearly three years of war.
Hospitals and medical facilities have been extensively damaged or destroyed, while restrictions on the entry of medicines, medical equipment and fuel have further undermined the ability of healthcare workers to provide treatment.
According to Gaza’s Health Ministry, since the ceasefire agreement took effect last October, more than 1,320 Palestinians have been killed and more than 4,385 injured.
The ministry says the broader Israeli military offensive in Gaza, which began in October 2023, has killed more than 73,000 Palestinians and injured more than 174,000 others.
A Humanitarian Crisis Entering a More Dangerous Phase
For Gaza’s population, the worsening water crisis is not an isolated problem. It is closely tied to the destruction of sanitation infrastructure, overcrowded living conditions, inadequate shelter and the collapse of essential public services.
As winter approaches, these conditions could combine to create an even greater threat to public health.
Contaminated water, overflowing sewage, standing water, damp shelters and limited medical capacity could leave already vulnerable communities increasingly exposed to infectious and respiratory diseases.
The WHO’s warning underscores the urgency of addressing these risks before winter rains intensify the crisis.
For families already struggling to find safe water, adequate shelter and medical care, preventing another wave of disease will depend not only on medical treatment but also on restoring the basic conditions needed for people to live safely and with dignity.
