21 May 2025 - 14:12
Source: Palestine Media
Gaza’s Deir al-Balah faces worsening water crisis after Israeli strike

Israeli shelling destroyed the last major water well in Deir al-Balah, pushing the city into an unprecedented water shortage. Authorities warn of a near-total collapse of the water system amid soaring temperatures and displacement. The municipality has called for urgent international intervention.

AhlulBayt News Agency: The municipality of Deir al-Balah in central Gaza announced on Tuesday that the Sahel 6 water well has gone out of service completely following an Israeli airstrike. The attack led to the destruction of the generator and key components of the well.

In a press release, Deir al-Balah Municipality explained that the well, located in the Al-Baraka area, was the last major water source still operational to fill the Al-Baraka tank. This facility is critical in supplying water to large parts of the city.

The destruction of the well has pushed Deir al-Balah into an unprecedented water crisis, occurring alongside frequent waves of displacement toward the city.

The municipality warned that densely populated neighborhoods, including Al-Baraka, Al-Mashaela, Al-Bee’ah, Al-Hakar, and Al-Mu’asker, will now be deprived of water, as all other main sources have been cut off.

This crisis follows the previous dredging of the Sahel 5 water well and the complete cutoff of the Israeli Water Company Mekorot’s supply line on January 23, 2025. Additionally, pumping from the central seawater desalination plant has been halted since March 9, 2025, due to a power outage.

The municipality stated that the situation has worsened in recent days, as several other wells, including Ma’ani, Qastal, Montazah, Mazraa, and Sina’ya, remain inaccessible due to security risks.

Al-Sina’ya water well, one of the largest in the city, is crucial for feeding the Al-Aqsa reservoir, which distributes water across different neighborhoods.

Officials warned that Deir al-Balah’s water system is nearing total collapse due to rising temperatures and increasing demand from residents and displaced families.

The municipality urged international humanitarian organizations to intervene immediately to secure alternative water sources, restore the remaining functioning wells, reconnect Mekorot’s supply line, restart the seawater desalination plant, and provide urgent assistance to prevent the worsening humanitarian catastrophe.

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