Holy Land: West Bank faces severe water shortage as Israel cuts supplies

Israel stands accused of using 'water as a weapon' as water supplies to the West Bank have been drastically cut, and some West Bank homes have gone without water for a week, news services and aid agencies report. The crisis began on the first day of Ramadan, when water supplies were cut completely for 24 hours. While summer temperatures are well over 30 degrees centigrade and rising, families across the West Bank now have barely enough to drink, let alone wash. Agriculture is particularly under stress and dairy farmers face the prospect of going out of business if the crisis continues.

Even during normal consumption periods, Palestinians receive an average of 73 litres per capita per day, well below the World Health Organization minimum standard of 100 litres, and much lower than the 240-300 litres Israelis and Israeli settlers receive.

Some residents have taken to buying water from trucks that come through the city, but the price of private water has skyrocketed since the start of the crisis.

There is water underground - but the occupying authorities do not permit Palestinians to build wells deep enough to reach it.

Meanwhile in Gaza, where much of the infrastructure was destroyed during the 2014 bombing, pollution caused by raw sewage and rising seawater infiltration makes 90 percent of the water unfit for human consumption.

See also: Israel's water cuts: West Bank 'in full crisis mode' www.aljazeera.com/news/2016/06/israel-water-cuts-west-bank-full-crisis-mode-160620133005799.html and

Israel plans to destroy only water source in West Bank village www.middleeastmonitor.com/20160620-israel-plans-to-destroy-only-water-source-in-west-bank-village/

Source: CMEP/MEM/ALJ