The association of water desalination stations in the Gaza Strip has warned of an imminent humanitarian catastrophe as several desalination plants have shut down due to severe fuel shortages.

In a statement addressed to official authorities and international organizations on Saturday, the association affirmed that some desalination stations had already shut down over the past two days after running completely out of fuel, threatening the supply of drinking water for hundreds of thousands of citizens.

The association said that a UNICEF representative informed owners of the desalination stations last Thursday that the agency was unable to secure the diesel fuel needed to operate their water facilities.

The association emphasized that the shutdown of desalination stations, even for limited periods, directly impacts water security in the Strip, given that a vast majority of the population depends on the facilities for daily drinking water.

The association called for urgent international action to provide Gaza’s desalination stations with their fuel needs and ensure their regular operation, warning that the water crisis could worsen and reach unprecedented levels.

Source:Websites