Since October 7, more than half of Gaza’s essential water facilities have been severely damaged or destroyed, leading to an unprecedented humanitarian crisis. Satellite analysis has revealed that 53 percent of Gaza’s 603 water facilities are no longer operational, with critical infrastructure in northern Gaza and Khan Younis sustaining the heaviest damage (Source: BBC). The destruction of these facilities and pipelines has plunged Gaza’s water system into disrepair, putting millions at risk of disease, thirst, and inadequate sanitation. 

With four out of six wastewater treatment plants damaged or destroyed and the remaining two shuttered due to supply shortages, untreated sewage now spills into streets and displacement camps. UNICEF’s desalination plant in Deir al-Balah, a lifeline for fresh water, is running at only 30 percent capacity due to severe fuel shortages, further complicating the crisis. 

To combat this devastating water scarcity, United Palestinian Appeal (UPA) has launched emergency water distribution efforts across Gaza since October 7, including in the severely affected northern parts of the Gaza Strip.  

Despite Israel’s heavy siege and ongoing attacks, our team continues its work on the ground to reach our people, providing clean drinking water and supporting local facilities to ensure that families have access to safe water. UPA’s distributions are designed to address both immediate needs and prevent the spread of waterborne diseases, which have already surged across the entire Gaza Strip. To date, our team has been able to distribute over 13,542,500 liters of clean drinking water to Palestinian families. 

UPA’s commitment to our people remains steadfast. We continue to provide urgent aid to address their most immediate needs. In these desperate times, UPA is on the ground to ensure that our people in Gaza can access life-sustaining resources, offering hope and resilience in the face of one of humanity’s darkest chapters. 

Long before the current genocide in Gaza, Israel’s blockade and restrictions had imposed severe limitations on daily life, impacting everything from access to essential goods to fundamental freedoms.  

Since 2007, the blockade has shaped nearly every facet of life in Gaza, restricting movement, commerce, education, and even the availability of basic materials and services. Here are some of the most critical items and freedoms that have been systematically denied to the people of Gaza under Israel’s blockade: 

1. Medical Supplies and Equipment 
   Hospitals and clinics in Gaza have long faced critical shortages of essential medical supplies, including medicines, surgical equipment, and basic healthcare tools. Restrictions have severely limited Gaza’s ability to import life-saving equipment, and access to specialized treatments outside Gaza was often denied. This left Gaza’s health sector under immense strain, unable to adequately treat chronic illnesses, emergency cases, or provide critical surgeries. 

2. Building Materials 
   Concrete, steel, and other construction materials necessary for rebuilding homes, schools, and infrastructure were heavily restricted. Despite periodic allowances, Israel imposed restrictions on what materials could enter Gaza, claiming that these supplies could be used for military purposes. As a result, rebuilding efforts were slow, leaving many families to live in damaged homes and affecting Gaza’s overall infrastructure, including schools and hospitals. 

3. Educational Materials and Technology 
   Essential educational supplies—like books, paper, lab equipment, and computers—were also restricted, hindering Gaza’s already fragile education system. Teachers and students alike faced a shortage of supplies, with Israel’s restrictions creating barriers to quality education, especially in technical fields where access to up-to-date equipment was crucial. 

4. Agricultural Inputs and Fishing Equipment 
   Gaza’s agriculture and fishing industries were severely affected, with restrictions placed on items like fertilizers, animal feed, and even fishing nets. These limitations prevented local farmers and fishermen from making a living and impacted Gaza’s food security. Fishing, once a mainstay of Gaza’s economy, was often restricted to a few miles off the coast, reducing fish availability and income for fishing families. 

5. Fuel and Electricity 
   Access to regular fuel and electricity shortages have always been a struggle in Gaza. Fuel restrictions affect everything from powering hospitals to water treatment plants, while electricity shortages meant families often went without power for up to 20 hours a day. The limited access to has also directly impacted Gaza’s clean water supply, as desalination and water treatment facilities depend on a consistent power supply to function. 

6. Movement of People and Goods 
   Freedom of movement, both in and out of Gaza, was heavily restricted. Palestinians require permits to enter Israel, often denied, even for medical emergencies or family reunifications. Gaza’s economy was further stifled by these restrictions, with most goods either unable to leave Gaza or permitted only in certain quantities and types, curtailing business opportunities and employment. 

7. Telecommunications and Internet Access 
   Gaza’s residents have always had limited access to internet and telecommunications infrastructure. Israel controls access to frequencies and hardware, preventing upgrades to high-speed networks leaving Gazans with limited bandwidth, which affects everything from education to healthcare, where options like telemedicine were affected.
   
8. Basic Food Items and Household Goods 
   Periodically, even basic food items, cleaning supplies, and household goods were restricted, leading to widespread shortages and higher prices. Goods that did make it into Gaza were often expensive due to scarcity, which made everyday essentials inaccessible to many families. 

These conditions have only worsened due to the ongoing bombardment of Gaza. In the face of the 18-year-long Israeli siege of Gaza and the genocide, we continue our mission to bring essential goods and services to our people on the ground, advocating for their rights to live with dignity and access the basic freedoms and necessities that every human deserves.