NEW YORK: Chief of the UN agency for Palestinians on Tuesday expressed serious concerns over the shortage of clean water in the conflict hit Gaza Strip terming the matter alarming for human health.
Philippe Lazzarini added Gaza is running out of water as well as life.
Gaza takes its water supplies from different sources, including a pipeline from Israel, desalination plants on the Mediterranean Sea and wells.
The supplies have been reduced when Israel cut off water, along with the fuel and electricity to the water plants.
United Nations recognizes access to water a human right
The United Nations acknowledges access to water as a human right, while on a basic level, the human body needs a continuous supply of water to survive.
Dr. Tsion Firew, an emergency physician at Columbia University said that water is really the most important thing for a maintenance of human health after air.
A report from the US National Academies of Science and Medicine says men need to consume about 3.7 liters (125 ounces) and women need about 2.7 liters (91 ounces) per day to be hydrated adequately.
Firew noted that Many people cannot survive more than a few days without water, especially children, the elderly and those with health issues. Dehydration can cause dizziness, fatigue and confusion that leads to organ failure and eventually death.
The expert further said that water is also crucial for sanitation, and a lack of clean water can cause infections like cholera and dysentery. He added diarrheal diseases are the main cause of death for children under five across the world.
As hospitals across the Gaza Strip struggle to treat thousands of patients, the World Health Organization added the shortage of water is putting lives in danger.
The WHO said in a statement said water is needed to ensure hygiene in wards, in operation rooms, and emergency departments.
It is pertinent to mention that Israel is preparing for a ground offensive in Gaza while subjecting the enclave to the most intense bombing ever, putting Gaza under complete blockade. Gaza authorities said that more than 2,750 people have been martyred by Israeli airstrikes.
