Gaza City is facing severe water crisis as damage to the main supply line and local pipelines has left millions without reliable access to clean water.
Municipal officials say more than 85 percent of the city no longer receives water on a regular basis, following the disruption of the Mekorot water line east of Gaza City and widespread damage to water infrastructure from Israeli military operations.
With pipelines destroyed and municipal crews blocked from entering restricted areas to carry out repairs, neighborhoods now rely on irregular and insufficient water deliveries.
"There is a water deficit of more than 90 percent. This has made conditions much worse for displaced people, whose numbers in Gaza City now exceed one million. More than 85 percent of the city no longer receives regular water, deepening the humanitarian crisis amid extremely difficult health and environmental conditions," said Husni Mahna, Gaza municipality spokesperson.
For displaced families sheltering across the city, water scarcity has become a daily struggle.
Water trucks are few and cannot meet the needs of Gaza's overcrowded population.
"We are suffering greatly from the lack of water. We get only one or two cups every five days. One or two water trucks are not enough. In Yarmouk area, we face a severe shortage of drinking water and even basic household water," said Mahmoud Al-Hessi, a displaced Palestinian.
Humanitarian organizations warn that the continued disruption of water systems could have long-term consequences, including increased risks of disease and environmental damage.
"People will need that access of water straight to their homes. That's why we continue to call [for] more humanitarian assistance, like pipes that can be used to repair the damaged water systems here, be allowed into Gaza. And at the end of the day, the obligation lies with Israel, as the occupying power in Gaza, to facilitate that access," said Pat Griffiths, a spokesperson for International Committee of the Red Cross.
Gaza City faces dire water crisis following damage to water supply line
Gaza City faces dire water crisis following damage to water supply line
Iraq has seen its aviation industry dealt a huge blow because of continued airspace closures and flight suspensions amid regional hostilities triggered by the recent Israeli-U.S. strikes on Iran.
As security concerns persist while tensions remain high, Iraq announced on Friday it would extend the closure of its airspace for one more week as uncertainty over the conflict continues to hang in the air.
It is estimated that the country's aviation industry has lost more than 43 million U.S. dollars over the past month since the crisis erupted, with the war causing huge disruption to air travel across the region.
"After the closure of Iraqi airspace, airport operations were halted, and revenue from both arriving and departing flights was lost. This includes income from passenger services as well as overflying aircraft, which has significantly impacted overall revenues," said Maytham al-Safi, director of media office of the Iraqi Ministry of Transport.
The impact is being felt across the board, from government revenues to private businesses, as some of the leading travel agencies say bookings have completely collapsed, with some reporting daily passenger numbers dropping from around 100 to just five.
"Our company has been directly affected. We have four branches and around 80 employees, and the impact has been significant. We still have rent and other expenses to cover, so we are trying to adapt to whatever limited business is still possible," said Ahmed Khalid, managing director of the Safari Trip travel and tourism company in Baghdad.
With air travel no longer an option, many Iraqis are turning to overland routes -- often traveling for hours, even days, to reach neighboring countries like Türkiye. But the journey is not only longer and more expensive, it can also be highly risky.
"This situation creates real anxiety for families. It's not only the travelers who are at risk, but also the vehicles transporting them. These journeys can be dangerous. There is always the risk of accidents or even drone strikes. At the same time, costs have doubled, so people are facing both financial and safety pressures," said Anwar al-Mousawi, a local resident.
For many, a sense of frustration is growing the longer the current situation drags on, as civilians bear the consequences of a conflict they are not part of, and with no clear timeline for reopening Iraqi airspace, economic losses and public frustration are expected to deepen.
"The reality is, we are in a country that is not part of this war and did not start it, yet we are the ones paying the price," said al-Mousawi.
Iraq's aviation industry left grounded as Middle East crisis continues
