Water scenarios in the Gaza Strip, Palestine: thirst, hunger and disease

Abstract

This paper examines the interacting problems which govern poor access to quality drinking water, as well as the related problems of solid waste treatment and recycling. The need for a stable political resolution of the Israel–Palestine conflict is paramount. Although long-term solutions to the crisis require a regional political solution, there are several local activities that can reduce the degradation of water supplies and larger eco-systems. These include desalination of seawater and brackish water, water import and domestic water filtration units. The big problem is to allow the groundwater aquifer to recharge over time. Other problems – all caused by the unresolved conflict – are unemployment, land degradation, agriculture limitation, smuggling of pesticides and fertilisers, absence of monitoring and licensing, and the collapse of the political system.

Keywords:

• Gaza
• Water
• Political conflicts
• Future scenarios

Acknowledgements

I am grateful to Prof. Dr Juliet van Eenwyk for her efforts to improve the quality of the manuscript.

Notes

aOver-utilization = quantities that exceeds the renewable resources due to rainfall. The extra amount comes from wastewater infiltration and sea water intrusion.