Fuel shortages and water disruptions see Gaza’s lifeline grinding to a halt

The Gaza Strip is entering its most dangerous phase since the outbreak of Israel’s genocide, with a tightened blockade, widespread destruction of infrastructure and a worsening shortage of basic services. The suffering is no longer limited to food and medicine shortages, but has extended to water, electricity, health and civil organisation, placing more than two million Palestinians in unprecedented hardship.

An unprecedented water crisis in Gaza

At the heart of the deteriorating humanitarian situation, the water crisis is worsening daily. The Gaza Municipality announced that the city has been facing a severe crisis for weeks, after the Israeli ‘Mikrot’ water line was disrupted by military operations in the eastern area known as the ‘yellow zone’.

According to the municipality, more than 85% of the city has been almost completely deprived of water, at a time when it was relying on the ‘Mikrot’ line as its main source during the genocide, after 72 wells were destroyed and the only desalination plant in Sudaniya was put out of service, in addition to the shutdown of the Bir al-Na’ja and al-Safa wells, which were destroyed again.

The daily water needs of Gaza City are around 100,000 cubic metres, while only 12,000 cubic metres are actually available at best, a shortfall of more than 75%. As a result, the per capita share in many areas does not exceed five litres per day, which is far below the minimum humanitarian requirement for survival.

The United Nations estimates that around 1.4 million of the 2.1 million inhabitants live in approximately 1,000 camps for displaced persons, without running water or electricity, which exacerbates health risks due to overcrowding and high temperatures.

Fuel: a faltering lifeline

The water crisis is directly linked to the fuel crisis, as municipalities are unable to operate wells and sewage treatment plants regularly due to a lack of supplies. Although limited quantities of fuel are being brought in, they do not cover operational needs, leading to frequent interruptions in water pumping and the accumulation of sewage in some areas.

Local authorities emphasise that fuel rationing has a direct impact on vital sectors, from hospitals to public sanitation services, exacerbating the health and environmental crisis and putting the service system to severe tests.

Economically, markets have seen significant increases in the prices of some basic commodities as a result of limited supplies and higher transport and coordination costs. Despite a relative improvement in the availability of some products in recent weeks, price fluctuations remain a prominent feature as restrictions continue.

In response, government agencies and the Ministry of Economy have intensified their regulatory campaigns to control markets and prevent monopolies and exploitation of the crisis.

and announced measures against some offending traders in an attempt to protect consumers and ensure fair distribution, especially in light of eroding purchasing power, rising poverty rates, and the dependence of a large segment of the population on aid or irregular sources of income.

Acute shortage of medicines

The issue of medicines and medical supplies remains one of the most sensitive and serious.

Hospitals are suffering from an acute shortage of essential items, including medicines for chronic diseases and antibiotics, as well as surgical and intensive care supplies.Health authorities warn that continued restrictions on the entry of medical supplies threaten the lives of thousands of patients, especially those with cancer, kidney and heart disease.

The weak operational capacity of hospitals amid fuel shortages further exacerbates the fragility of the health sector, which is already on the brink of collapse.*A chronic deficit*Ultimately, restrictions on the entry of aid and essential goods—whether through rationing or complex procedures—remain a key factor in keeping the sector in a chronic deficit.

Between worsening thirst, scarce fuel, volatile prices, and acute shortages of medicines, Gaza’s residents face a daily struggle for survival in one of the most complex humanitarian situations since Israel’s genocide began.

Featured image via the Canary