Nine out of 10 Gazans unable to access safe drinking water: UNICEF

The situation has deteriorated further following Israel’s decision on Sunday to cut power to the enclave – in a bid to increase pressure on Hamas over hostage releases – disrupting vital desalination operations.

Rosalia Bollen, a UNICEF official in Gaza, reported that 600,000 people who had regained access to drinking water in November 2024 are once again cut off. “It’s really vital for thousands of families and children to restore this connection,” she said.

UN agencies estimate that 1.8 million people – over half of them children – urgently need water, sanitation and hygiene assistance.

Speaking at a press conference in Geneva, the UN aid agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini expressed that “the situation is similar to the one which prevailed in October 2023.”

West Bank displacement

Mr. Lazzarini highlighted the escalating crisis in the occupied West Bank, where Israeli security operations have led to the largest displacement of Palestinians since 1967.

Around 40,000 people, many of them refugees, have been forced to flee their homes, with entire communities emptied due to intensified military activities.

The Commissioner-General condemned what he called the systematic dismantling of UNRWA’s operations in the West Bank and East Jerusalem following Israel’s ban on agency operations, pointing to the “increased pressure from the municipality to vacate its premises and halt service provision,” with international staff denied entry or expelled.

Mr. Lazzarini warned that efforts to undermine UNRWA – through funding suspensions, legislative restrictions and disinformation campaigns – pose a severe threat to regional stability.

Calls for unhindered access

Humanitarian Coordinator Muhannad Hadi called for the entry of lifesaving aid to resume “immediately,” as any further delays will affect the progress achieved during the ceasefire.

Meanwhile, Mr. Lazzarini further emphasised the importance of a political framework to prevent the crisis from escalating.

He referenced ongoing diplomatic efforts, including proposals led by Saudi Arabia, the European Union and the League of Arab States, to implement a two-State solution and transition humanitarian services to Palestinian-led institutions.

“When there is political will, humanitarian assistance can be unhindered and uninterrupted,” he underscored.

Funding crisis

As the crisis unfolds, UNRWA is also grappling with severe financial constraints, exacerbated by funding suspensions from key donors.

Mr. Lazzarini urged Member States to sustain UNRWA’s operations until a clear political solution emerges, warning that cutting support prematurely will only intensify calls for Palestinians’ return or resettlement.

“The rights of Palestinian refugees exist independently of the agency,” he said, underscoring that ending UNRWA’s mandate without a viable alternative will only deepen civilian suffering.