LIVE: UN Security Council - Palestine Crisis

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3. Lack of clean water and safe sanitation is on the verge of becoming a catastrophe

Unicef executive director Catherine Russell, at the UN’s security council on Monday, said the lack of clean water and safe sanitation is on the verge of becoming a catastrophe in Gaza. More than two million people are in “dire need” as what little clean water remains in Gaza is quickly running out, she said.

We estimate that 55% of the water supply infrastructure requires repair or rehabilitation. Only one desalination plant is operating at just 5% capacity, while all six of Gaza’s water-waste treatment plants are now non-operational due to a lack of fuel or power. She said her agency was doing its best to reach all children in need, but that the delivery of humanitarian aid is now “extremely challenging”.

Some of her staff have lost close family members, including spouses and children, she said. She added that she was also grieving with the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (Unrwa), who have said that 63 of their staff have been killed in Gaza since 7 October.

The situation grows worse by the hour, and without an urgent end to the hostilities, I am deeply afraid for the fate of the region’s children.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2023/oct/30/israel-hamas-war-live-updates-aid-trucks-enter-gaza-strikes-casualties-israel-targets-hit-syria-lebanon#top-of-blog