Water Authority Warns of Serious Water Crisis in Gaza Strip

Gaza, 18 Jumadil Akhir 1438/17 March 2017 (MINA) – Head of the water authority in Gaza Yaser al-Shanti said that the annual shortage percentage in the underground water reservoir in the enclave has reached 100 million cubic meters.

He affirmed that water wells in Gaza do not meet the standards of the World Health Organization, the Palestinian Information Center (PIC) reported. About 85% of water wells in Gaza are not safe for domestic use because of high chloride and nitrate, he highlighted.

In a press conference held in Gaza on the World Water Day on Thursday, Shanti warned of the gravity of the situation in the besieged enclave in accordance with international and local reports that confirmed the existence of acute shortage of water in quantity and quality.

He underlined that the shortage of water supply is mainly caused by the increasing urban expansion. This has led to the shortage in the level of the underground water in addition to high salinity, he said. The lack of good infrastructure and sanitation networks is another reason, Shanti pointed out.

He announced the launch of a series of events with the participation of a number of ministries and private local authorities on the World Water Day which coincides on March 22. The events aim at deliberating the reality of water and sewage conditions in the Gaza Strip and urging people to decrease water consumption.(T/R04/RS5)

Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)