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95% of Gaza groundwater 'not fit for human use'
Published Friday 14/09/2012 (updated) 16/09/2012 10:49
The population in Gaza needed to be aware of the crisis affecting Gaza's
water, the minister said. (MaanImages/File)
GAZA CITY (Ma’an) -- The Gaza Strip is undergoing a real water crisis which threatens people's lives, the Hamas government's agriculture minister said Thursday.

"About 95 percent of the groundwater in the Gaza Strip is not fit for human use in general, and may cause a number of diseases and health problems," Mohammad al-Agha said.

In al-Agha's interview, published by the Palestine Center for Strategic Studies, he said the population in Gaza needed to be aware of the crisis affecting Gaza's water.

"The Arab world in general and the Gaza Strip in particular are classified as dry regions. The main reason for this crisis in the Gaza Strip is the occupation and its policies," he said.

"We call on all specialized and concerned organizations to take necessary measures that will help finding solutions to this crisis."

In August, a UN report warned that Gaza could soon lose its main source of fresh water, the underground coastal aquifer, which could become unusable by 2016 and irreversibly damaged by 2020.

The World Health Organization says Gazans have an average of 70-90 liters per person per day, compared to a minimum of of 100 liters a day recommended by WHO.

“We have respiratory diseases, skin diseases, eye diseases, gastroenteritis, which can all be linked to polluted water,” said Mohamed al-Kashef, director of the international cooperation department in the Gaza health ministry, in an August interview with a UN news agency.
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1 ) Outlier / USA
14/09/2012 18:12
Like most of Gaza's problems, self-inflicted. Not launching missiles at the neighbor would have benefits beyond not receiving retaliatory attacks in return. Hamas and its proxies simply don't get it.
2 ) Carol Scheller / Switzerland
14/09/2012 19:50
This problem has got nothing to do with missiles ! There have been extensive studies of the Gaza aquifer's deterioration since 1948; simply, there has been no solution or attempt to solve the problem due to the political situation.
3 ) Water / Crisis
14/09/2012 19:59
Palestinians should ask Egypt to dig an irrigation canal to Gaza from Sinai when they run promised gas and power lines to Gaza. It will resolve all Gaza problems. Just ask Arab brothers from Egypt and they will do for you whatever you want them to do. Seriously – it’s not a joke. He-he-he.
4 ) REAL / PEACE
14/09/2012 20:36
It is time for the million Hamas Arabs to move to Egypt,
and also the 2 million PA Arabs to move to Jordan,
both with a lump-sum cash payment from UN donor states,
and the entire Middle East Region could know REAL PEACE.
5 ) Julie / USA
15/09/2012 01:46
#1 - actually the whole world but izrael and you pro-zionists 'get it': the izrael's occupation and siege on Gaza are ILLEGAL PER INTERNATIONAL LAW. oh, and one more thing: IZRAEL is fully responsible for the well-being of Gazans...READ: http://www.btselem.org/gaza_strip/israels_obligations .
6 ) gabi / australia
15/09/2012 09:21
#4 - You are in total denial. The Palestinians were there for many generations - most of the Israelis are newcomers, from Europe. Why don't they all move out, and then there will be real peace. #1 - what benefits? When the West Bank foreswore violence all it get them was more settlements. You too are in denial. The rockets (which you used to laughingly call flying stovepipes until you realised the political mileage to be gained from them) would stop if Israel stopped strangling Gaza.
7 ) Filipe / Portugal
15/09/2012 13:01
" The main reason for this crisis in the Gaza Strip is the occupation and its policies" Someone forgot to tell this idiot that there isn't any Israelis in Gaza. But, that's normal, they need to blame thier problems on someone.
8 ) Goori / Occupied Australia
15/09/2012 17:31
@6: When you white settlers leave then there will be real peace. When you leave with your cheap beer and your cheap clothes all the land is going to be an Indigenous Protected Area - all of it. Why don't you get your ticket. Go to Ireland, go to Arabia. We are sick of your settlements. Our day will come.
9 ) ABE / USA
15/09/2012 18:50
But according to another article on the home page. Zahar says Gaza is doing very well! So I guess Gazans have stopped drinking water!! no need to worry. Hurray for success!
10 ) Outlier / USA
15/09/2012 19:38
Meant to write "Operation Cast Lead." Sorry for the error.
11 ) wjm / usa
15/09/2012 19:56
REAL PEACE; The time, rather, is for European Jews to go back to Europe where they came from.
12 ) Tibi / Tubas
15/09/2012 23:54
The 5% will have to be enough, and in fact probably even less than 5% will have to be enough, because if/when the PA destroy the Oslo Accords, Israel will be free to discontinue supply 5 mcm/year of water to Gaza, and also 28.6 mcm/year, to the West Banks Areas A/B !! http://www.mfa.gov.il/MFA/Peace Process/Guide to the Peace Process/THE ISRAELI-PALESTINIAN INTERIM AGREEMENT - Annex III.htm#app-40
13 ) @ wjm-11 / USA too
16/09/2012 23:52
REAL PEACE WILL NEVER COME FROM FANTASIES, like either: - "Jews to go back to Europe", or - Arabs to go back to Arabia !! JEWS ARE just as surely "STAYING PUT", as Palestinians, and world leaders recognize that, NEGOTIATIONS ARE THE ONLY WAY. REAL PEACE WILL ONLY RESULT FROM REALITY & NEGOTIATIONS, and a real "Occupation" Status-Quo will remain until Arabs accept this, and complete these negotiations with Israel !!
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