Rebuilding water and sanitation systems which should never have been targeted is crucial to survival
- 4 min read
- Published: 18th February 2025
Gaza crisis: 46,000 cases of infectious diseases, mostly children, reported weekly as water networks destroyed
- Less than seven percent of pre-conflict water levels available to Rafah and North Gaza worsening a health catastrophe
- More than 80 percent of water and sanitation infrastructure across the Gaza Strip has been partially or entirely destroyed.
- Major repairs of networks urgently needed but Israel rejects supplies
Oxfam has warned that the deliberate destruction of water infrastructure in Gaza has heightened the spread of waterborne diseases to catastrophic levels. 46,000 cases of infectious diseases have been reported weekly, mostly impacting children.
Despite the resumption of aid into Gaza, water supplies to the vast majority remain woefully inadequate due to Israeli military blockages.
“Oxfam’s own 85 tonne-shipment of water pipes, fittings and water tanks – worth over $480,000 - had been held up for over six months because it was deemed as dual-use and “oversized” to enter. Israeli authorities only finally approved the shipment this week, although it has yet to enter.
“Meanwhile, infectious diseases including acute watery diarrhoea and respiratory infections - now the leading causes of death – are also surging, with 46,000 cases, mostly children, being reported each week. The World Health Organisation has found 88 percent of environmental samples surveyed across Gaza contaminated with polio, signalling an imminent risk of outbreak.
“Every delay in restoring clean water puts more lives at risk. Israel must allow the urgent delivery of materials needed for big repairs and comply with international humanitarian law. Our staff and partners in Gaza say that displaced people are stopping them in the streets begging for water. This toxic combination of open sewage, uncollected waste and contaminated water is creating a perfect storm for a deadly disease outbreak.
“Rebuilding water and sanitation systems which should never have been targeted is crucial to survival. The international community cannot turn a blind eye towards our responsibility to stop a preventable, man-made crisis.”— Bríd McGrath, head of Public Affairs at Oxfam Ireland.
ENDS
Oxfam Ireland's head of Public Affairs, Bríd McGrath, is available for comment.
For more information, please contact:
Clare Cronin, Head of Communications – Oxfam Ireland
clare.cronin@oxfam.org
+353 (0) 87 195 2551
Kate Brayden, Media Officer – Oxfam Ireland
kate.brayden@oxfam.org
+353 (0) 87 749 7447
- Oxfam has recent photos and footage of water and sanitation destruction in Gaza and can be downloaded HERE (valid until 14 May 25)
- According to the World Health Organization, 88 percent of environmental samples surveyed across Gaza were found contaminated with polio, signalling an imminent risk of outbreak.
- More than 80 percent of water and sanitation infrastructure across the Gaza Strip has been partially or entirely destroyed, including all six major wastewater treatment plants.
- According to Oxfam’s Water War Crimes report, the Gaza population had access to 82.7 litres per person per day before 7 October 2023. Currently Rafah has less than five percent of that amount; and North Gaza governorates have less than seven percent of that amount, or 5.7 litres per person per day.
- 85 percent of the sewage pumping stations (73 out of 84) and networks have been destroyed. Some have been repaired but urgently require fuel to operate.
- 85 percent of small desalination plants (85 out of 103) have been partially damaged or completely destroyed.
- According to the Coastal Municipalities Water Utility (CMWU) as of February 2025, a total of 1675 km out of 4,800 km of Gaza’s water and sanitation networks have been partially or entirely destroyed since October 2023. This includes 350km in North Gaza, 495km in Gaza City, 240 Km in the Middle area, 350km in Khan Younis, and 240km in Rafah respectively.
- Approximately 1,035 km of water and sanitation pipelines have been destroyed Over Data on water and sanitation destruction is based on the Coastal Municipalities Water Utility (CMWU) Rapid Damage Assessment Report, January 2025.
- Data on cost of infrastructure repair is based on Gaza Municipality Planning and Investment Unit report of December 31, 2024.
- According to the 10 Feb 2025 WASH Cluster report: only two (out of 35) wells in Rafah are currently operational.
- Acute watery diarrhoea (AWD) in children under five years old was reported to be 13,179 cases. This accounts for approximately 54% of the total registered cases of AWD. Also, 21 out of 24 Polio environmental surveyed samples across Gaza (88%) were positive. Source: Polio Global Eradication Initiative (WHO & UN) on 1 Feb 2025
- UNOSAT latest data collected on 1 December 2024 identified 60,368 destroyed structures, 20,050 severely damaged structures, 56,292 moderately damaged structures, and 34,102 possibly damaged structures for a total of 170,812 structures. The governorates of North Gaza and Rafah have experienced the highest rise in damage compared to the 6 September 2024 analysis, with around 3,138 new structures damaged in North Gaza and around 3,054 in Rafah. Within North Gaza, Jabalya municipality had the highest number of newly damaged structures, totalling 1,339.
