Gaza’s Water Infrastructure Desperately Needs to be Rebuilt.
The current ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas does not include provisions that will aid in restoring access to water and sanitation. But without immediate action to reconnect electricity, provide a large influx of fuel, and allow in repair materials needed to rebuild water and sanitation infrastructure, Palestinians in Gaza will continue to be killed by disease, dehydration, and malnutrition. Samer Zaqout, the deputy director of Palestinian civil society organization Al-Mezan and a Gaza resident, told Human Rights Watch four days into the ceasefire:
“The big concern for us now is not pulling out bodies from the rubble and the massive destruction, the main problem is that people who are going home are not accessing necessities like water and electricity.”
