Israel Connects Water Desalination Plant in Gaza to Electrical Grid
In a significant move aimed at easing the critical water shortages in southern Gaza, Israel has connected a water desalination plant in Khan Yunis to its electrical grid. This development comes as a relief to the Palestinian territory, which has been grappling with severe water scarcity issues.
The Israeli army and the COGAT agency announced that a new power line has been directly linked to the water desalination plant managed by UNICEF in Khan Yunis. While the connection has been established, it may take up to two weeks before electricity is supplied to the plant. The Gaza Electricity Distribution Corporation is making preparations for the potential operation of the power line by Israel.
Col. Elad Goren of COGAT explained that Israel would provide electricity once the necessary repairs are made on the Gazan side, estimating a timeframe of one to two weeks. The Palestinian Authority based in Ramallah will be responsible for covering the costs of the electricity supply, as was the case before the conflict between Israel and Hamas erupted on October 7.
The decision to reconnect the power line was driven by the urgent need to enhance the desalination plant’s capacity. UNICEF has expressed its approval of the agreement with Israel to resume supplying the Khan Yunis plant with electricity, marking a significant milestone in addressing the water crisis in Gaza.
Since the outbreak of hostilities with Hamas, Gaza’s 2.4 million residents have been facing acute water shortages, exacerbated by the damage inflicted on sixty percent of the territory’s water distribution systems. The situation has been further compounded by Israel’s imposition of a complete siege on Gaza, leading to a humanitarian crisis as essential services like electricity, water, and gas have been severely disrupted.
Prior to the connection of the new power line from Israel, the desalination plant in Khan Yunis was only able to produce 5,000 cubic meters of water per day. With the additional electricity supply, the plant’s production capacity is expected to increase significantly to 20,000 cubic meters of drinking water daily, providing much-needed relief to the residents of Gaza.
The move to connect the water desalination plant to Israel’s electrical grid represents a positive step towards addressing the pressing water scarcity issues in Gaza. As efforts continue to rebuild and restore essential infrastructure in the region, collaboration between stakeholders is crucial in ensuring sustainable access to clean and safe drinking water for the people of Gaza.