Half of Gaza water sites damaged or destroyed, BBC satellite data reveals
Accumulated sewage is contaminating Gaza’s water supply – Rafah, 24 April 2024
Kayleen Devlin, Maryam Ahmed & Daniele Palumbo report in BBC News on 9 May 2024:
Hundreds of Gaza’s water and sanitation facilities have been damaged or destroyed since Israel began military action against Hamas, satellite analysis by BBC Verify has found. Damage to a major supplies depot has also severely disrupted repairs.
The lack of clean water and flows of untreated sewage pose a serious threat to health, say aid agencies.
The Israel Defense Forces told the BBC that Hamas cynically exploits civilian infrastructure for terror purposes.
The destruction comes despite Israel’s duty to protect critical infrastructure under the rules of war, unless there is evidence sites are being used for military reasons, say human rights lawyers.
Clean water has always been a limited resource in Gaza and the territory has largely relied on a system of boreholes and desalination plants for its supply. Our analysis found that more than half of these vital facilities have been damaged or destroyed since Israel launched its retaliation in Gaza after Hamas attacked on 7 October.
We also found that four of the six wastewater treatment plants – crucial to preventing the build-up of sewage and the spread of disease – have been damaged or destroyed. The two others have shut down because lack of fuel or other supplies, according to one aid agency.