UNRWA warns of increased waterborne illness threat amid Gaza desperation

By Michael Hernandez

WASHINGTON (AA) - The people of the besieged Gaza Strip face the increasing threat of waterborne illnesses amid acute shortages of clean water supplies, the UN's Palestine refugee agency warned Monday.

Juliette Touma, the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) spokesperson, said the "vast majority" of Gazans continue to lack clean water supplies despite Israel's announcement that it would resume the flow to the southern half of the coastal enclave.

"We're talking about 2 million people in the Gaza Strip who do not have water, and water is running out. Water is life, and life is running out of Gaza," she said.

"We are very concerned about the spread of waterborne diseases if water continues not to be available in Gaza, because we do know that people are resorting to dirty water sources, including water from wells," she added.

Touma said that UNRWA has been unable to confirm the resumption of water flows from Israel, but emphasized that any resumption in clean water flows requires fuel, which is needed to operate pump stations that supply water throughout the Palestinian territory, as well as to run a desalination plant supported by UNICEF.

Gaza is experiencing a dire humanitarian crisis, and has no electricity, while water, food, fuel, and medical supplies are running out as civilians flee to the south following an Israeli warning to evacuate northern areas.

Israel previously ordered a "full siege" on Gaza in retaliation for a surprise attack launched by Hamas on Oct. 7 that included a barrage of rocket launches and infiltrations into Israel via land, sea, and air. It said the incursion was in retaliation for the storming of the Al-Aqsa Mosque and increased settler violence.

Over 1,300 Israelis have since been killed.

In addition to the siege, the Israeli military launched Operation Swords of Iron against Hamas, with strikes killing over 2,750 people, including 750 children, in Gaza.

Touma said that UNRWA's supplies are rapidly depleting, and said shelters that the agency is operating are facing mass overcrowding, and lack sufficient sanitation services. At some facilities, hundreds of people are sharing a single toilet.

"There should be a lifting to the siege, and the UN should be allowed to bring in much-needed supplies," she said.