UN: Water shortages in occupied Palestinian territory threaten public health

Most of the population across the occupied Palestinian territory lacks sufficient access to water, sanitation and hygiene, UN humanitarians said Tuesday.

More than 1.3 million people – more than half of the population – have access to less than 6 liters of water per person per day for drinking and cooking, said the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).

According to humanitarian standards, the minimum amount of water needed in an emergency is 15 liters per day, which includes water for drinking, washing and cooking, said OCHA.

The office said that another 700,000 people have access to less than 9 liters of domestic water per person per day, which compromises their ability to maintain hygiene, clean their homes and meet their children's needs.

Three in every four people rely on collecting water from trucks. Humanitarian partners took water to over 2,500 water collection points every day and over 100 displacement sites across Gaza last month, said OCHA.

"People face overcrowding at water collection points and lack enough containers to transport water back to their homes – a task that is often left to children," OCHA said. "Only half of all households have access to basic sanitation, or private facilities that prevent contact with human waste. The other half rely on shared, inadequate or unsafe options, which increase health risks."

The office added that humanitarian partners collect about 80% of all primary solid waste generated across the strip. Yet more than 900,000 people report being exposed to garbage that accumulates in residential areas.

OCHA said that consistent funding, additional permits to import spare parts, and renewed access to landfills in access-restricted areas remain essential.