MSF GAZA: Update from Water and Sanitation Coordinator on MSF's work in Beit Lahia
Since Israel has destroyed and restricted access to critical water infrastructure, the amount of water available in Gaza is wholly insufficient. Through the production of drinking water and water trucking, MSF teams can still ensure that 1 in 4 people in Gaza have access to drinking water. As of the 31 December 2025, MSF’s registration in Israel has expired and as it stands, we will have to cease operations in Gaza by 1 March 2026. If MSF and other NGOs are forced to stop water activities, hundreds of thousands of people will lose access to drinking water. Denying humanitarian assistance to civilians is unacceptable under any circumstances. Denying people water, deprives them of the means to survive.
Below is a video from Paula Navarro, Water and Sanitation Coordinator for MSF in Gaza:
Transcript:
"My name is Paula Navarro and I’m a Water and Sanitation Coordinator from Spain, and this is my fourth mission in Gaza.
Behind me is the MSF Desalination Hub in Beit Lahia. Built after all other water infrastructure in this governorate was mdestroyed by Israeli forces.
Here we pump salty underground water and we purify it into safe drinking water before loading our trucks to reach the families in the hardest access areas.
One in every four Palestinians now has access to drinking water because of these activities.
MSF operates five water production hubs, seven decentralised units, several boreholes, and more than 20 trucks to distribute water across Gaza. Our activity might stop and Palestinians will face the consequences.
Every day we provide clean water to over a half a million people.
MSF wants to continue supporting access to water for Palestinians together with the local authorities, not only in Beit Lahia, but across the Strip.
We are not finished yet, there is so much more to do."
Video: