Nine in ten people in Gaza face unreliable access to safe water

Access to safe water got worse over the summer. A survey by the Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) Cluster, completed in early July, found that 90% of people faced frequent, unpredictable disruptions to safe water, up from 84% in the previous survey. Gaza city was hardest hit, at 92% of households (OCHA).

During the intense summer heat, more than 300,000 children joined summer learning programmes, and about 3,350 households received tents, tarpaulins, bedding and solar lights. OCHA said more funding was needed to stock supplies before the rainy season.

Many people need long-term care. The Health Cluster estimated that a quarter of those injured since October 2023 may live with life-changing injuries, and WHO recorded 45 attacks affecting health care in Gaza so far in 2026 (OCHA).

Key figures

• 90% of people face frequent disruptions to safe water, up from 84% (WASH Cluster, via OCHA)
• More than 300,000 children in summer learning programmes (OCHA)
• 45 attacks affecting health care recorded in 2026 (WHO, via OCHA)
• 1,259 people killed and 4,148 injured since the ceasefire, according to Gaza’s Ministry of Health (via OCHA)

Sources

• UN OCHA oPt: Humanitarian Situation Report – 14 August 2026 (14 August 2026)

Photo: Emad El Byed / Unsplash · Gaza City, Palestine