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Gaza's young and growing population lacks water not only for drinking but also for hygiene and sanitation

• More than a quarter of all reported disease in Gaza is caused by poor water quality and access.
• Chemical and biological contamination could lead to bacterial (cholera, Salmonella, Shigella), parasitic (Giardia), and viral (polio, viral meningitis) infections.
• If present trends continue, Gaza and the surrounding region are at risk of a disease outbreak or another water-related public health crisis.

Recent events have accelerated Gaza's longstanding water challenges

• The main source of Gaza's water, its aquifer, is being depleted and its quality diminished by seawater intrusion, wastewater seepage, and agricultural runoff.
• Gaza's inconsistent energy supply greatly limits the operations of its water and wastewater treatment facilities.
• Recurring wars between Israel and Hamas have damaged Gaza's water infrastructure.

Gaza's water crisis could be resolved through greater investment in water and power infrastructure as well as additional water or electricity purchases, but many barriers remain

• Israel and Egypt, Gaza's neighboring states, severely restrict access and movement of goods into Gaza, including materials needed for repairs and construction of electricity, water and wastewater infrastructure.
• Intra-Palestinian strife and a governance vacuum in Gaza have exacerbated externally inflicted damage in severely limiting the power supply and hindering reconstruction.
• International aid has been pledged inconsistently yet not followed through in full.
• Political complications hinder the implementation of all proposed solutions.