Mercy Corps Urges Humanitarian Corridor into Gaza Amid Looming Water Shortage

Mercy Corps is deeply concerned about the alarming escalation of violence in Israel and Gaza, which has caused hundreds of deaths and thousands of injuries among civilians. Following the announcement of a siege on Gaza, access to urgently needed supplies is rapidly diminishing. Reports of a looming shortage of water could threaten the lives of thousands of people trapped in Gaza within days. Before this latest outbreak of violence, over 70% of the population of Gaza needed assistance to meet their daily basic needs. Now, reported damage to water and sanitation facilities from airstrikes has jeopardized water, sanitation, and hygiene services to over 400,000 people in Gaza. 

Mercy Corps Palestine Director, Uma Kandalaeva, said:

“As we look at the days ahead, we are deeply concerned that a siege of Gaza cutting off access to food, water, fuel, and supplies would result in a massive humanitarian catastrophe that could cost tens of thousands of innocent lives. There is currently only one power plant in Gaza providing electricity, which could run out of fuel in the coming days. Critical infrastructure like hospitals would stop functioning. Overcrowding in shelters with limited access to clean water would likely lead to the spread of diseases. 

“Already over 97% percent of the water in Gaza was undrinkable unless treated, contaminated by toxins and human waste, and the emergency supply of chlorine for treating water is being depleted.

“No place in Gaza is safe right now. Many families are under bombardment, or without a roof to protect them or a safe place to go to. Women, children and the elderly are having to move multiple times to escape harm. 

“We call on all parties involved in the conflict to facilitate the entry of critical supplies like medicine, food, and water as well as aid workers into Gaza to alleviate the suffering of civilians. We are committed to resuming our humanitarian programs in Gaza as soon as we are able to do so, and significantly ramping up much-needed lifesaving assistance, but our ability to operate entirely depends on safe, unfettered humanitarian access.” 

Mercy Corps has worked in the West Bank and Gaza since 1986, meeting critical humanitarian needs, such as access to clean water and cash assistance, working with children and young people, and connecting people to economic opportunities where unemployment is over 40 percent. Since 2019, Mercy Corps has provided access to safe and clean drinking water to more than 55,000 people in Gaza by constructing two water desalination plants and water distribution networks.

For more information please contact our media team at allmediarelations@mercycorps.org