How Serious Is the Water Crisis in Palestine?
The conflict between Palestine and Israel has been ongoing ever since the creation of Israel in 1948. The two sides are constantly at odds with one another, with violence often erupting. The main issue in this conflict is land, primarily the Palestinian territories of the Gaza Strip and the West Bank—taken over by Israel in 1967 during the Six-Day War. However, there’s another factor that is a major part of the conflict: water.
The Water Crisis in Palestine
The water crisis in Palestine has continued to worsen as the Israel-Palestine conflict continues. While Israel has its own issues with water, the crisis is far worse in Palestine, since the resources that get into territories like the Gaza Strip are controlled by Israel and Israel gets 40% of its own water from the Palestinian territories. Currently, the average per capita water consumption by the Palestinian population is only 55% of the standard daily consumption recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO).
Palestine’s lack of control of its own water resources has led to severe water shortages, even as Israel’s water scarcity is becoming less of an issue. Throughout history, the Palestine water situation has been exacerbated by Israel, with Israel taking Palestine’s water and essentially selling it back to them.
Israel has also restricted the drilling of new wells and other water-development construction by requiring Palestinians to receive authorization first. There are also quotas that limit the amount of water Palestinians are able to pump. Furthermore, Palestinians pay nearly three times as much for water—often water coming from their own territories—as those in Jewish settlements.
Similar to the electricity crisis in the Gaza Strip, the demand for—and use of—water in the Palestinian territories greatly surpasses the resources available, resulting in water being pumped at unsustainable levels.
All of these factors combined have led to the severe water crisis currently facing Palestine, and have worsened the humanitarian circumstances there. In response to the water crisis in Palestine, the Palestine Children’s Relief Fund (PCRF) continues to provide humanitarian aid to children and their families through our hospitals, pediatric medical programs, health initiatives, hospital infrastructure projects, orphan and disabled children sponsorships, and medical missions. These efforts help to ensure that children in need get the vital assistance they require.
PCRF is not a political or religious organization. Our mission is to provide medical and humanitarian relief collectively and individually to Arab children throughout the Middle East, regardless of their nationality, politics, or religion. We rely on charitable giving to provide medical treatment, surgeries, safety, shelter, and support to children and their families suffering from the energy crisis in Gaza. Find out how you can get involved and help make a difference in children’s lives today!