UN: Gaza faces severe water shortfall and mine risks as aid operations continue under constraints
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Summary
The UN said Gaza City receives only about 6,000 cubic meters of fresh water daily despite reopened supply lines, partners have distributed tens to hundreds of thousands of hygiene and water items, and mine-action teams reported 33 explosive-ordnance incidents since the October ceasefire causing nine deaths and 65 injuries.
The United Nations briefed reporters on acute humanitarian needs in Gaza on Tuesday, saying the city continues to face a severe shortage of drinking and domestic water even after partial reopenings of the Mekorot supply line.
"Only 6,000 cubic meters are reaching people in the city every day with significant water losses in hard-to-reach areas," the UN spokesperson, Steph, said. To mitigate the shortfall, the UN and partners have increased water production and truck deliveries from groundwater wells and private-sector desalination plants.
Since last month, partners have distributed more than 100,000 water jerry cans, 700,000 bars of soap, over 25,000 hygiene kits, over 400,000 household latrines and 250 anti-lice kits across Gaza, the spokesperson said. He added that Mine Action partners had conducted over 200 assessments of potential explosive hazards and reached over 10,000 children and adults with risk-education messages.
"This remains a major risk," the spokesperson said, noting that 33 explosive-ordnance incidents have been reported since the ceasefire came into force in October, resulting in nine deaths and 65 injuries.
The spokesperson said restrictions on entry of items listed as "dual use or non-humanitarian" — including spare parts and certain shelter material — and the deregistration of some international NGO partners are hampering humanitarian operations and limiting support to UNRWA and other UN agencies.
An online questioner and reporters also raised media reports that Israel returned the bodies of 54 Palestinians allegedly showing signs of torture and boxes with skeletal remains. The spokesperson said he had not seen those specific reports and that the UN would look into them and ask colleagues on the ground to follow up.
The briefing did not provide independent verification of the reported bodies or of exactly how much water would be needed to restore normal supplies; it instead emphasized ongoing UN and partner efforts to scale assistance despite impediments to access and supplies.