Young Lives at Risk
In Gaza, the ongoing conflict has left nine-year-old Yunis Jumaa severely malnourished and dehydrated, giving the crisis of water. Yunis, once a healthy child, now lies semi-unconscious on a hospital bed in Khan Younis. His frail frame is a stark reminder of the crisis gripping the region. Yunis’s mother, Ghanima Jumaa, tearfully recounts how her son’s health has deteriorated due to the lack of clean water and adequate nutrition.
Water Contamination Crisis
Ghanima Jumaa explains the dire situation: “There is no bottled water. The children trek long distances to fetch water, which is often contaminated. This crisis mirrors the situation in other parts of Gaza. At Nasser hospital, five-year-old Tala Ibrahim Muhammad al-Jalat also suffers from severe dehydration. Her father, Ibrahim Muhammad al-Jalat, describes the unbearable conditions in their tent, where temperatures soar and the available water is unsafe to drink.
Health Emergency in Gaza
Dr Ahmed al-Fari, head of the children’s department at Nasser Hospital, highlights the public health emergency. He says, “Contaminated water is the biggest cause of intestinal infections in Gaza.” Children are battling vomiting, diarrhoea, and even hepatitis due to the tainted water supply. The United Nations reports that the destruction of 67% of Gaza’s water and sanitation system exacerbates the crisis.
Infrastructure Destruction
Water engineer Salaam Sharab from Khan Younis municipality underscores the destruction: “We have lost between 170 and 200km of pipes, along with wells and water tanks.” Despite the Israeli military allowing humanitarian aid into Gaza, aid agencies struggle to distribute it due to ongoing fighting. This has led to desperate attempts by Gazans to secure clean water, often resulting in long queues and potential contamination.
International and Local Responses
The International Criminal Court prosecutor has accused Israel of using starvation as a weapon of war, a claim that Israel vehemently denies. Israeli ministers assert that the humanitarian crisis in Gaza is exaggerated and blame Hamas for the conflict. Meanwhile, the United Nations warns that over a million Gazans could face severe starvation by mid-July if the situation does not improve.
Daily Struggles of Gazans
For many Gazans, like Ghanima Jumaa and her son Yunis, the crisis is a daily reality. Ghanima’s struggle to find safe water and adequate food for her son epitomises the broader humanitarian catastrophe. As she carries Yunis along the hospital corridors, her plight highlights the urgent need for international intervention to restore Gaza’s shattered water and sanitation infrastructure.
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