Satellite data has revealed that over half of Gaza's water and sanitation facilities have been damaged

 

A BBC Verify analysis of satellite data has revealed that over half of Gaza's water and sanitation facilities have been damaged or destroyed since Israel began military action against Hamas. The damage has severely disrupted repairs, leaving hundreds of thousands of people without access to clean water and sanitation.

The analysis found that 53% of the 603 water facilities examined had been damaged or destroyed, with the majority of damage concentrated in northern Gaza and around Khan Younis. Four of the six wastewater treatment plants have been damaged or destroyed, and the two remaining plants have shut down due to a lack of fuel or supplies.

The destruction of water and sanitation facilities has led to "disastrous health consequences" for the population, according to Dr. Natalie Roberts of Medecins Sans Frontieres UK. Rates of diarrheal disease have skyrocketed, and there is a high risk of cholera and hepatitis A.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) stated that Hamas cynically exploits civilian infrastructure for terror purposes, and that the IDF is locating and destroying these terror infrastructures. However, human rights lawyers argue that facilities critical to the survival of civilians should be protected unless there is concrete evidence to suggest otherwise.

The damage to water facilities has also made it difficult for Gaza's water authority to repair and maintain vital facilities, with a key maintenance warehouse being severely damaged in a missile strike. The warehouse, which contained over 2,000 items used for maintenance, was the heart of the water and sanitation services in Gaza.

The situation is dire, with hundreds of thousands of people displaced from their homes and living in tented camps. The build-up of sewage in the streets is a major threat, and the lack of clean water and sanitation is having a devastating impact on public health. Aid agencies are warning of a humanitarian catastrophe, and the international community is calling for an immediate end to the violence and a negotiated settlement to the conflict.