UNRWA: Heatwave and water shortages exacerbate Gaza’s tragedy

The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) warned on Thursday that the extreme rise in temperatures and the worsening water shortage crisis are making the already catastrophic humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip “even worse.”

In a series of posts on its social media accounts, the agency stated that the current heat wave in Gaza has exacerbated the water crisis, noting that temperatures exceed 40 degrees Celsius, exacerbating the suffering of the population under the existing tragic conditions.

It added that the scarcity of available water increases the risk of dehydration, especially with the ongoing shelling and forced displacement, and with the limited electricity and fuel that deprive civilians of any means of mitigating the intense heat.

UNRWA explained that since the start of the genocidal war on the Gaza Strip on October 7, 2023, it has implemented emergency water, sanitation, and hygiene activities throughout Gaza, providing support to approximately 1.7 million displaced persons, including bottled water and water trucks.

The UN agency reiterated the “urgent need for a ceasefire” to end the suffering of civilians in the Gaza Strip.