Gaza Desalination Plants warn of imminent water crisis amid fuel shortages

GAZA, June 20 (YPA) – The Gaza-based The Association of Desalination Plant Owners in the Gaza Strip warned on Saturday of an imminent humanitarian crisis as several desalination facilities halted operations due to fuel shortages, putting the drinking water supply for hundreds of thousands of residents at risk.

In a statement to official bodies and international organizations, the association said some plants had already shut down in the past two days after exhausting their diesel reserves, raising serious concerns over the continued production and distribution of desalinated water in the territory.

The statement added that a representative of UNICEF had informed plant operators last Thursday of difficulties in securing the fuel needed to keep the facilities running, as well as constraints in distributing sufficient diesel to maintain operations this week.

It stressed that even temporary shutdowns of desalination plants directly threaten water security in Gaza, where much of the population depends on desalinated water as their primary drinking source.

The statement also warned that the situation is expected to deteriorate further unless urgent action is taken.

It called on relevant authorities and international organizations to intervene immediately to secure fuel supplies and ensure uninterrupted operation of desalination facilities, urging practical steps to prevent a full halt in water production and distribution.

The association’s statement also highlighted a severe shortage of essential operational and maintenance materials, including filters, desalination membranes, spare parts, industrial oils, and vehicle tires used in water transport, warning that these deficiencies are worsening pressure on an already fragile water system and deepening the humanitarian crisis.