LONDON July 18. 2024 (Saba) - A new report issued by the international organization "Oxfam" on Thursday revealed the Zionist entity's systematic use of water against the people of the Gaza Strip, "in disregard and contempt for human life and international law."
The report, entitled "Water War Crimes," concludes that the Zionist entity's cutting off of external water supplies, the systematic destruction of water facilities, and the deliberate obstruction of aid have reduced the amount of water in the Gaza Strip by 94% to reach 4.74 liters per day per person, "slightly less than a third of the minimum recommended in emergency situations and less than the water needed to flush one toilet."
The Oxfam report showed that the Israeli military attacks damaged or destroyed five water and sanitation infrastructure sites every three days since the beginning of the war, and that the destruction of water and electricity infrastructure and the restrictions imposed on the entry of spare parts and fuel (as only a fifth of the required amount is allowed in on average) led to an 84% decrease in water production in the Gaza Strip, and external supplies from the Israeli water company "Mekorot" decreased by 78%.
The report pointed out that the Zionist entity destroyed 70% of all sewage pumps and all sewage treatment plants, as well as the main water quality testing laboratories in the Gaza Strip, and restricted the entry of Oxfam's water testing equipment, and that Gaza City lost almost all of its water production capacity, as 88% of water wells and all water desalination plants were damaged or destroyed.
The report highlighted the impact of the severe lack of clean water and sanitation facilities on the health of the people of the Strip, “with more than a quarter of the population of the Gaza Strip (26%) suffering from serious diseases that are essentially preventable.”
“It is clear that Israel has created a devastating humanitarian emergency that has led to the deaths of Palestinian civilians,” said Lama Abdel Samad, Oxfam’s water and sanitation specialist.
“We have seen Israel use collective punishment and starvation as a weapon of war. We are now witnessing its use of water as a weapon, which is already having deadly consequences. But the deliberate restriction of access to water is not a new policy. The Israeli government has deprived Palestinians across the West Bank and Gaza Strip of safe and sufficient water for many years,” she added.
H.H
resource : Saba
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