Almost 85% of Gaza’s Water & Sewage Facilities destroyed by Israel’s bombs

Gaza officials highlighted that essential infrastructure such as wastewater treatment plants, desalination stations, pumping stations, wells, water tanks, and key pipelines have been badly affected by Israel bombs, requiring major repair works to bring them back into use.

The Palestinian Water Authority confirmed today that Gaza’s water and sewage sectors have been destroyed by the ongoing Israeli military attacks over the past year, reported Wafa news agency.

Officials said that more than 85% of water and sewage facilities are either fully or partially non-operational due to extensive damage to critical infrastructure.

Ziad Fuqaha, acting head of the Palestinian Water Authority, confirmed that persistent power outages have worsened the crisis, as there is a severe shortage of fuel needed to run backup generators for water services.

The lack of maintenance supplies, combined with widespread destruction and debris, has prevented the ability to ensure safety and coordinate repairs at damaged sites.

Fuqaha further reported that the current Israeli aggression has severely impacted all three main water sources in Gaza, with production dropping to just 30-35% of pre-war levels.

Groundwater, previously supplied by 300 wells providing around 262,000 cubic meters daily, has seen a drastic reduction due to significant damage to many of these wells. These now produce only about 93,000 cubic meters of water per day.

Desalination plants have also been heavily affected. The North Gaza facility, with a capacity of 10,000 cubic meters per day, has been completely shut down.

While the Central and South Gaza plants, typically producing 5,500 and 20,000 cubic meters per day, are now operating at reduced levels, supplying only around 5,000 cubic meters per day.

The remaining water supply is that supplied by aid groups through the border with Israel.

However Israel has greatly restricted the entry of vital humanitarian aid, including water, into the enclave forcing Palestinians to live on three liters of water a day to supply all their needs; just 3% of the internationally-recognized minimum standard for daily water intake.

LEBANON and PALESTINIAN REFUGEE CAMPS :

• For the second consecutive week, airstrikes across the country have driven further displacement. Over the reporting period, airstrikes have expanded affecting wider areas, including central Beirut and Palestine Refugee camps.
• At the start of October, UNRWA temporarily suspended most of its operations in the Tyre area, primarily because of the displacement of UNRWA staff due to the security situation.
• Since the activation of its Emergency Response in Lebanon on 24 September, UNRWA has opened 12 emergency shelters. As of 3 October, three UNRWA emergency shelters have reached their maximum capacity.

The 12 shelters operated by UNRWA are located in the following areas:

One in Beirut (Yabud School), five in the Saida Area (Siblin Training Center, Nablus School, Rafidya School, Beir Zeit/Beit Jala School, and Deir Qasi school)

And five emergency shelters in the North (Toubas School, Amqa School, Mount Tabour School, Battir School, and Majeddo and Mazar school, all in Nahr el-Bared Camp), and one in Beqaa (Jarmaq School, in Zahle District).

A total of 4,250 Internally Displaced Persons (IDP’s) have registered in UNRWA shelters as of 3 October[1] , marking an 82% increase from the 2,332 people registered in UNRWA shelters as of 30 September. This number is expected to continue to rise.

As of 1 October 2024, at least 1,745 people have been killed and 8,767 injured in Lebanon since October 2023 according to UNHCR, citing figures from the Ministry of Public Health.[2]

According to OCHA, Lebanese national authorities estimate that over 1 million people are now directly affected and/or displaced by the conflict.

The International Organization for Migration (IOM) reports a total of 346,209 people (52% and 48% male) being displaced between 8 October 2023 and 29 September 2024, with new displacements continuing to be reported and counting still ongoing[3] .

Since 8 October 2023, six hospitals in Baalbek, Nabatieh, and southern Lebanon have been reported damaged, while approximately 40 out of 317 primary health centers and two hospitals have suspended services.

On 1 October, the Lebanese Prime Minister and the UN Humanitarian Coordinator for Lebanon jointly launched a Flash Appeal calling for US$ 425.7 million to address the urgent needs of 1 million people.

All of them badly affected by displacement and the escalating conflict in the country, aiming to provide life-saving assistance and ensure the protection of civilians and essential services.

The number of public facilities serving as emergency shelters across the country has risen to over 875, primarily comprising public schools, educational complexes, vocational institutes, and agricultural centers.

People are being directed to these shelters through governorate operations rooms, via designated hotlines. At the time of writing, 625 (71%) of these facilities have reached maximum capacity.

• Educational institutions in Lebanon remain closed for learning.
• As of 1 October, approximately 177,000 Syrian and 63,000 Lebanese nationals had crossed into Syria to escape the conflict, according to the national authorities in Syria.
• As of 3 October, 1,285 households, representing a total of 4,250 people, are registered in UNRWA emergency shelters across the country, marking an increase of 82% since the last report of 30 September.
• Of these, 66% are Palestinian, 16% are Syrian, and 18% are Lebanese. Among the Palestinian population, 70% are Palestine Refugees from Lebanon (PRL) and 30% are Palestine Refugees from Syria (PRS).

Tehran backs efforts for a ceasefire in Lebanon on the condition it would be backed by Hezbollah and simultaneous with a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, Iran’s Foreign Minister, Abbas Araqchi, said in Beirut on Friday, Reuters reports.

We support efforts for a ceasefire on the condition that it would be acceptable to the Lebanese people, acceptable to the Resistance and, thirdly, it would be synchronized with a ceasefire in Gaza.

Iran’s most senior diplomat also said his presence in Beirut in these difficult circumstances was the best evidence that Iran stood by Lebanon.

Middle East Monitor / ABC Flash Point News 2024.