Water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH)
As of 17:00 on 31 October, one out of the three water supply lines from Israel, servicing the Middle area, was restored for the first time since it was cut off on 8 October. While water provision resumed in Nuseirat, Bureij, Maghazi, and Zawaida areas, the volumes received have yet to be assessed. On the other hand, on 30 October, two main water wells in Nuseirat were struck and seriously damaged.
Additionally, the second supply line from Israel to western Khan Younis, which stopped on 30 October was not restored. This line previously supplied 600 cubic metres of drinking water per hour. The third pipeline from Israel to northern Gaza remains also closed since 8 October.
In the Middle Area and southern Gaza, the operation of two seawater desalination plants at about 40 per cent of their capacity, alongside 120 water wells and 20 pumping stations, has continued. This has been enabled by the delivery of small amounts of fuel by UNRWA and UNICEF. As a result, households still connected to the water network have been receiving water for a few hours a day, while others have received water by trucks.
Almost all water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) support is largely limited to southern Gaza, while access to water in Gaza city and northern Gaza is far more challenging. Neither the water desalination plant nor the Israeli pipeline supplying those areas is operational. While UNRWA and UNICEF have also provided limited amounts of fuel to a number of water wells, water is provided by trucks only. Over the past two days, water trucking activities came to a halt due to the ongoing military operations.
On 31 October, three trucks out of the aid convoy were carrying about 3,700 hygiene kits and 22,000 bottles of water, which are set to be distributed among the IDP centres in the south of Gaza. Overall, out of the 217 trucks that have entered Gaza since 21 October, at least 18 carried drinking water (jerrycans and bottles), water tanks, water purification equipment, and hygiene kits.
for the full report: Hostilities in the Gaza Strip and Israel | Flash Update #25
Displaced Palestinians staying at Al Quds hospital in Gaza, 29 October 2023. Photo by WHO
