Amman, Jordan, July 11, 2025 — The International Rescue Committee (IRC) warns that Gaza’s water crisis has reached breaking point. Ongoing hostilities, mass displacement, and extreme fuel shortages have left communities without access to the basic clean water and sanitation they need to survive. Fuel is essential to power Gaza’s desalination plants, water and sewage pumps, and even toilets. Without it, water cannot be produced or delivered.
Most people in Gaza are now receiving far below the WHO’s emergency standard of 15 litres of water per person per day. With only 40 percent of Gaza’s drinking water facilities still functional, water production is less than half of what it was during the last ceasefire in March.
Scott Lea, Emergency Country Director, recently returned from Gaza and shared,
“The entire water system has broken down. There is simply not enough clean water to meet the needs of the population in Gaza. The people we meet have no food, and now no water. IRC teams continue to distribute clean, desalinated drinking water to families in Asda city (40,000 litres per day) and Almutahabeen displacement camp in Mawasi (20,000 litres)—both in Khan Younis. Working closely with other agencies we are reaching as many people as possible, but the supply of clean water is irregular, and the demand is overwhelming. Without a regular supply of fuel it is impossible to meet the water needs of the population.”
Water trucking operations are increasingly disrupted by insecurity, overcrowding, and fuel shortages. Due to the lack of functioning desalination plants, trucks must travel further and ultimately deliver smaller volumes at each stop. Two IRC partners recently reported trucks being emptied by desperate residents before reaching their destinations. Waste collection has also been reduced to just three days a week in parts of Khan Younis and the Middle Area, raising serious public health risks.
When clean water is unavailable, the consequences extend far beyond thirst; families are forced to rely on unsafe water sources for cooking, cleaning, and bathing, heightening the risk of disease outbreaks like skin conditions, diarrhea, and hepatitis. This compounds the burden on Gaza’s collapsing health system, particularly in overcrowded shelters with limited hygiene options.
Scott Lea added, “Fuel is not just a logistics issue—it’s a lifeline. Without it, water cannot be supplied, sewage cannot be managed, and families are left in increasingly dangerous conditions, unable to meet their basic needs.”
The IRC calls for the immediate and sustained entry of fuel and humanitarian supplies into Gaza. Without urgent action, life-sustaining WASH services will collapse, with devastating consequences for families already pushed beyond their limits. Even with fuel and aid, the Palestinian civilians cannot be protected without an end to the violence. We reiterate our call for the reinstatement of the ceasefire, the unimpeded access of aid, and the release of all remaining hostages.
Notes to editors
According to the WASH cluster:
- Only 40% of Gaza’s drinking water facilities are functional
- Water production is now less than half of what it was during the last ceasefire that ended in March this year.
- 79 percent of water and sanitation facilities fall within militarized zones or areas under displacement orders.
- Nearly three-quarters of desalination plants, water wells, wastewater pumping stations and dumpsites are no longer functioning. Water reservoirs are among the most affected, with 83% out of service.
- Two of Gaza’s three official Mekorot water supply connections are also down—further restricting available water sources.