ACCESS to safe water is dwindling in Gaza as the World Health Organization warned today that a “public health catastrophe” in Gaza is imminent.
Najla Shawa speaks of how 5 children in her household have vomited in the last 24 hours.
“I hope that they are recovering and that it’s just a virus,” she says – noting that they have doubts about the cleanliness of the salinated water they drink from a nearby tanker.
The third instalment of our exclusive Diaries from Gaza series is up now (below) with more desperate audio clips from Oxfam staff battling to survive as conditions worsen.
Christian Lindmeier, a spokesperson for the WHO, said overcrowding, mass displacement and damage to water and sanitation infrastructure may cause a plethora of health issues in Gaza as Israeli bombing continues.
“It’s really shameful that we, as families, have to ask those around us to use as little water as possible because it’s unavailable,” says Ghada Al Haddad.
She adds: “It’s too much, it’s really too much.”
The UN Children’s Fund (Unicef) warned that children in Gaza were at risk of dehydration as water output sits at just 5% of normal levels with desalination plants either damaged or lacking fuel.
A spokesperson for Unicef, James Elder, said: "Child deaths due to dehydration, particularly infant deaths due to dehydration, are a growing threat.”
Wassem Mushtaha explains that he and his family are buying bottled water at vast expense – albeit only enough for half a litre a day each, far below the recommended daily intake at the best of times.
“We are looking for a ceasefire to stop this horrible situation. And the opening of borders to address urgent humanitarian needs,” he said.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu continues to reject calls for a ceasefire.
