Various recent news media report from Gaza that the water and waste water treatment facilities there suffer badly from Israel’s security concerns about importing of energy, pumps, pipes and other spare parts in the Hamas controlled area. Since May 2007, 149 public wells in Gaza have had too little fuel to operate and have not been maintained due to the lack of parts. As a result 15 percent of Gaza's population (225,000 people) get water for only two hours per day.

Furthermore, the poor quality water has not been tested for more than a year, because laboratories have been unable to import chemicals to test it. Tests carried out by the World Health Organization (WHO) several years ago concluded that Gaza's water is unfit for human consumption.

Experts also warn that lack of spare parts may soon force one of the 35 sewage pumping stations to stop operating in Gaza. This would mean sewage backing into homes and onto the streets and the resulting health problems associated with it. The seriousness of the situation prompted ex-British premier and current Quartet envoy, Tony Blair, to get involved in the World Bank's North Gaza Emergency Waste Water Treatment Project and use his influence and clout to persuade the Israeli authorities to allow in urgent spare parts for this particular project.

Source: Middle East Times, 2 Jan 2008 ; New York Times, 6 Nov 2007

Tags: policies & legislation, sanitation