Jabaliya Refugee Camp, Gaza Strip – In the Jabaliya refugee camp, families endure long hours under the scorching sun, queuing for the chance to fill their buckets and containers with precious water. The destruction of Gaza’s potable water infrastructure by Israeli forces has left the residents in dire straits.

Bassam Abu Rokba, a disabled displaced person in Jabaliya, described the harrowing conditions: “There is no water or food. Our children died of dehydration. We can’t wash up or use bathrooms. I can’t find any water to drink.” The situation underscores the severe humanitarian crisis gripping the area.

Weeks of intense fighting followed by the withdrawal of Israeli forces have left Jabaliya’s infrastructure in ruins. According to the head of the Jabaliya municipality, 75% of the water wells in the area were destroyed by Israeli strikes, as reported to local media outlets in March.

“There is almost no food or water because of the lack of aid coming into Gaza. Our clothes are dirty. All the water wells are destroyed and not a single one of them is functional,” said Hassan Adwan, another resident waiting for water. The destruction has exacerbated the already critical shortage of clean water and food.

The United Nations has raised alarms about the increasing risk of diseases, including cholera, due to the lack of clean drinking water and inadequate sanitation amid rising summer temperatures. The deteriorating conditions pose a significant threat to public health in the enclave.

Israel faces accusations of deliberately targeting civilian infrastructure in Gaza as a tactic of war. The impact on the civilian population is evident, with families struggling to survive without basic necessities. The crisis highlights the urgent need for international intervention and humanitarian aid to address the severe shortages and prevent further suffering.