New York - Saba:
Pedro Arrojo-Agudo, the UN Special Rapporteur on the human rights to safe drinking water and sanitation, stated that the destruction of Gaza’s water infrastructure and the denial of access to clean water by the Israeli occupation forces amounts to a "silent but deadly bomb."
In a press statement on Tuesday, Arrojo-Agudo explained that 2.1 million people in Gaza are facing a water crisis, with nearly 70% of the water infrastructure destroyed by Israeli forces. He emphasized that "the vast majority of Gaza’s population either receives very limited amounts of water or is forced to consume dangerously contaminated water."
He added that the Israeli blockade imposed since October 2023 has targeted food, water, electricity, and other essential supplie, exacerbating the humanitarian catastrophe. The situation has spiraled out of control after Israel cut off access to fuel, which is critical for operating water purification plants and wells.
Arrojo-Agudo stressed that the deliberate destruction of water systems means water is being weaponized in the war on Gaza.
*Water is being used as a weapon against civilians," he said. "Cutting off people’s access to drinking water is silent but deadly."
He noted that Israeli attacks on Gaza’s water infrastructure have reduced the daily water share per person to just 5 liters, which is "jinsufficient for a normal life."
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