Children face severe water shortages and a dire hygiene situation in the Gaza Strip
UNICEF is on the ground to provide water, sanitation, and hygiene for every child in the Gaza Strip.
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The dire situation created due to water scarcity, inadequate sanitation services and hygiene challenges pose serious health risks to children in the Gaza Strip. "I have to wait 2 hours to use the bathroom; the line is very long, and there are lots of people in the shelter." In the Gaza Strip, one of the most challenging parts of the daily routine is the long wait to use the bathroom. The overcrowding in the shelter exacerbates the difficulties they face, especially for young children.
Eman, a mother and her four children find themselves living in a tent at the Zahra school shelter in Rafah. They are among the thousands of families facing the daily struggle of accessing necessities, particularly clean water, and sanitation facilities.
"It would be great if we would be able to just have some extra bathrooms; it will make it easier for us, especially for the children." Says Eman. Access to adequate sanitation facilities is not just a matter of comfort; it is a matter of public health and dignity. With only one toilet for 700 people in shelters, the situation is extremely challenging.
Eman shares her concerns about the dire conditions they face. "The school bathrooms are in poor condition and often not properly cleaned," she says with a sigh. In a place where cleanliness is paramount for health and well-being, this is a grave concern for Eman and her children.
But it does not stop there. Eman continues, "Due to limited water availability, I can only shower myself and my children once every two weeks." The scarcity of water resources makes it a precious commodity in the Gaza Strip, and families like Eman's must make do with what little they have.
And when they do manage to secure water, there is another obstacle. Eman explains, "When we do have water, it's often too cold to use, which can lead to illnesses in my children." The harsh reality of cold-water showers in the winter is another challenge for families.
Amidst these challenges, UNICEF and partners work tirelessly to make a difference. By providing fuel to enable clean water production, water trucking, and distributing water tanks, jerrycans, and hygiene kits to thousands of people, including children, in various areas of the Gaza Strip. For example, UNICEF, with partners, distributed four collapsible water tanks (5 cubic meter capacity) and 5,000 jerrycans of 10 litres capacity, benefiting over 20,000 people in Rafah and Khan Younis. Furthermore, UNICEF distributed over 43,000 litres of bottled water, benefiting over 14,000 people, including over 7,450 children in Khan Younis.
UNICEF also supports installing private mobile latrines, benefiting over 10,000 people, including over 5,000 children living in shelters. Additionally, through the UN mechanism, UNICEF provided fuel to one wastewater treatment plant to support sewage treatment and safe disposal, benefiting over 275,000 people, including 140,250 children in Rafah.
UNICEF provided support for cleaning services at 22 shelters in Rafah and Der Al Balah, benefiting over 90,000 individuals, including 46,000 children. Additionally, UNICEF continued its pilot program called the “Incentive-Based Programme” at Al Quds University, which engaged 7005 workers in solid waste management interventions, benefiting over 30,000 individuals, including 16,000 children.
Through dedicated efforts, UNICEF and partners are striving to bring relief to families, ensuring that access to water and sanitation facilities becomes a reality. Thanks to the support of the Governments of Australia, Denmark, and Spain, the EU Humanitarian Aid, and CERF, in addition to UNICEF's regular resources, UNICEF is committed to addressing the urgent needs of families across the Gaza Strip by providing essential supplies and improving access to clean water and sanitation facilities.
The theme of World Water Day 2024, ‘Water for Peace’, highlights the importance of access to safe water for all. UNICEF is dedicated to ensuring that every child in the State of Palestine has access to safe water, a fundamental human right that is crucial to every aspect of life. This right must be respected and guaranteed, even under the most challenging humanitarian circumstances, by all the parties. By providing safe water, we can promote peace and security in the region.
