Water in Gaza: ‘I wake up and go to sleep thinking about water’

The systematic destruction of Gaza’s water infrastructure—wells, desalination plants, and wastewater facilities—has turned water into a weapon of war. Since October 2023, Gazans’ daily water consumption has dropped from 83 litres to as little as 2–9 litres, far below humanitarian minimum standards. Drawing on a mixed-methods study conducted in 2024 with 1,011 young people and 24 service providers across all five governorates, this policy brief highlights the acute water insecurity faced by adolescents. Findings show that 87% of participants were classified as highly water insecure, with many reporting going to bed thirsty, waiting hours in unsafe spaces to collect water, and relying on contaminated sources. Girls and young women face particular challenges in managing menstrual hygiene amid scarcity and taboos, while youth with disabilities are disproportionately vulnerable to ill health. These results underscore the urgent need for targeted humanitarian interventions addressing water insecurity’s gendered and age-specific impacts in Gaza.

Suggested citation:

Suggested citation: Vintges, J., Jones, N. and Abu Hamad, B. (2025). ‘Water in Gaza: “I wake up and go to sleep thinking about water”’. Policy brief. London: Gender and Adolescence: Global Evidence (https://gage.odi.org/water-in-gaza-i-wake-up-and-go-to-sleep-thinking-about-water/)