After cutting off the Mikroot line, the water shortage in Gaza City portends an impending health and environmental disaster

Gaza City is facing one of its most serious humanitarian crises, after water supply has been cut off from more than 85% of its area for 15 days, after the Israeli occupation cut off the main water line, Mikroot, which portends catastrophic health and environmental repercussions in light of overcrowding. Population and almost complete collapse of infrastructure. Gaza Municipality spokesman Hosni Muhanna said that the water crisis has been exacerbated by an unprecedented way since the water pumping was stopped through the “Microot” line coming from the occupied interior. October 2023. Muhanna indicated that the occupation army destroyed more than 150,000 linear water networks, four main tanks, and 72 wells, in addition to the desalination plant northwest of Gaza out of service, causing a deficit exceeding 90% of the water resources available to the population. He added that about one million citizens and displaced persons are currently residing in Gaza City, in partially destroyed buildings, overcrowded shelters, and narrow streets, amid a sharp decline in the ability to provide water for basic uses. A liter before the war to less than 5 liters now, a level that does not meet the minimum humanitarian needs. Muhanna pointed out that the water crisis coincides with the accumulation of waste and the flooding of sewage, as a result of the destruction of the infrastructure, which created a very dangerous environmental reality, exacerbated by the absence of sufficient quantities of water needed for cleaning and sterilization, warning of the spread of epidemics and diseases.