MECA staff filling up jugs of clean drinking water for displaced families in Rafah, Gaza
Biddun mai, fish heyya
Arabic saying for a universal truth:
Without water, there is no life
It seems almost cruel that the UN theme for World Water Day 2024 is “Water for Peace” while children in Gaza are suffering horribly painful deaths because they don’t have either.
Israel created a water crisis in Gaza long before October 7, 2023. The decades of occupation, the 17-year blockade, and previous Israeli bombardments created a water crisis where 97% of water in Gaza is unfit for human consumption. Israel’s attacks continue to damage and destroy wells, water purification and desalination systems, wastewater plants, and water pipes. At the same time, Israel blocks key materials and parts from entering.
Now, because of the Israeli siege, massive destruction, and displacement there is almost no water for people in Gaza:
No drinking water.
No water for washing produce or for cooking.
No water for health workers and caregivers to wash their hands.
No water for families to keep themselves, their clothes, or their living spaces clean.
As a result, hundreds of thousands of people are suffering from and dying from upper respiratory infection, meningitis, skin rashes, scabies, lice, and hepatitis. Thousands of children under five have life-threatening diarrhea. People who have so far survived Israeli bombing, shelling and sniper fire are dying from dehydration.
Fifteen years ago, MECA started the Maia Project to install water purification systems in Gaza schools and communities, providing clean water every day for about 100,000 people.
Since October 7, MECA has also provided people in Gaza with:
- 703,012 gallons of clean drinking water distributed to displaced families from solar powered water purification units
- Millions of gallons water from the “Maia” water systems MECA installed in UN schools over the last 15 years
- Two new water purification systems in Mawasi for thousands of families living in tents and are unable to get other water aid.
This World Water Day, please renew your determination to do whatever you can to call for a ceasefire, end the blockade and stop the genocide.
