GAZA / DRINKING WATER CRISIS

The Gaza Strip is facing a rapidly worsening crisis in access to safe drinking water, as Israeli military operations continue and expand across various parts of the territory. This has triggered new waves of displacement and increased pressure on an already fragile infrastructure. UNIFEED

• Video Length: 00:06:57
• Production Date: 16 June 2025
• Asset Language: English
• Subject Topical: WATER SUPPLY
• Geographic Subject: GAZA; PALESTINE; ISRAEL
• MAMS Id: 3412283
• Parent Id: 3412283
• Alternate Title: unifeed250616c

Description

STORY: GAZA / DRINKING WATER CRISIS
TRT: 06:57
SOURCE: UNIFEED
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGES: ARABIC / NATS

DATELINE: 11 JUNE 2025, GAZA CITY

Shotlist

1. Wide shot, a UNDP (United Nations Development Programme) truck arriving at one of the displacement camps in Gaza City to distribute potable water
2. Various shots, displaced Palestinians lining up in front of the UNDP truck to collect potable water
3. Various shots, displaced people filling water jerrycans
4. Various shots, displaced children, men, and women carrying filled jerry cans of potable water
5. SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Displaced Palestinian:
“Regarding water, we are suffering greatly, especially drinking water. When the water truck arrives, it helps around 300 tents in this camp.”
6. Various shots, displaced children, men, and women carrying filled jerrycans of potable water
7. SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Displaced Palestinian:
“Since the beginning of the war until now, we’ve been suffering from a water crisis. Our situation is very difficult. We hope everyone can help us with the water issue, because water is the foundation of life. We can endure the lack of food - which we’re already deprived of - but water is indispensable. It cannot be denied to a child or anyone. We hope that anyone who can help with water does not hesitate.”
8. Various shots, displaced Palestinians crowding around a UNDP truck to fill potable water
9. SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Displaced Palestinian:
“Drinking water is essential for people’s lives. Water is not always available. We call on everyone to intervene to solve the water crisis in Gaza. We hope it can be provided daily, especially since it’s summer now, and water consumption is three times higher than in winter. We call on everyone to help solve the water crisis.”
10. Various shots, displaced persons carrying jerrycans filled with potable water
11. Various shots, children carrying jerry cans filled with potable water
12. Various shots, displacement tents in central Gaza City
13. SOUNDBITE (English) Alessandro Maracchi, Director of the UNDP office in Gaza:
“UNDP PAP, the program of assistance to the Palestinian people as part of the WASH Cluster and in close collaboration with the Palestinian Water Authority and the Coastal Water Utility in Gaza, is supporting access to water at scale both in the north of Gaza and in the South. Specifically, now we are distributing water with water tracking in Gaza City, in Jabalia and as of last week, also in the South. We are serving more than 150,000 people per day. Access to water is essential, especially now that we are heading into summer and still people is facing limited access. This is an area of importance where we are scaling up and along with all partners we will be supporting further over the next few weeks.”
14. Various shots, a UNDP truck and children carrying jerrycans filled with potable water
15. Various shots, displacement tents in central Gaza City

Storyline

The Gaza Strip is facing a rapidly worsening crisis in access to safe drinking water, as Israeli military operations continue and expand across various parts of the territory. This has triggered new waves of displacement and increased pressure on an already fragile infrastructure.

Under these dire conditions, UN agencies are warning that vital desalination and wastewater treatment facilities are on the verge of complete shutdown due to the depletion of fuel supplies needed to operate them.

The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reported that its partners have warned of a “total shutdown” of these facilities by the end of this week unless fuel deliveries resume urgently.

Back in March, Israel cut off power lines supplying the main desalination plants in Gaza, which serve as a primary source of drinking water for the enclave’s residents.

Although Israel recently announced that it has started allowing some basic supplies into the Strip, fuel remains excluded from these deliveries.

Alessandro Maracchi, Director of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) office in Gaza, stated that the UNDP’s Assistance to the Palestinian People Programme, in cooperation with the Coastal Municipalities Water Utility and the Palestinian Water Authority, is working to provide widespread access to water in both northern and southern Gaza.

He added, “We are distributing water with water tracking in Gaza City, in Jabalia and as of last week, also in the South. We are serving more than 150,000 people per day.”

In a displacement camp in northern Gaza, a Palestinian evacuee said, “Regarding water, we are suffering greatly, especially drinking water. When the water truck arrives, it helps around 300 tents in this camp.”

Another displaced person added, “Since the beginning of the war until now, we’ve been suffering from a water crisis. Our situation is very difficult. We hope everyone can help us with the water issue, because water is the foundation of life. We can endure the lack of food - which we’re already deprived of - but water is indispensable. It cannot be denied to a child or anyone. We hope that anyone who can help with water does not hesitate.”

Similarly, a third displaced person stressed the need for a continuous water supply, saying, “Drinking water is essential for people’s lives. Water is not always available. We call on everyone to intervene to solve the water crisis in Gaza. We hope it can be provided daily, especially since it’s summer now, and water consumption is three times higher than in winter. We call on everyone to help solve the water crisis.”