Water scenarios in the Gaza Strip, Palestine: thirst, hunger and disease

Shomar, Basem

doi:10.1080/00207233.2011.582724

Cited by 16 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 52 publications

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“…Numerous natural and anthropogenic factors contribute to making Gaza strip the worst-case scenario in term of water problems (Al-Agha, 1995;Shomar, 2006;Shomar, 2011b). A number of studies and research have reported high microbiological and chemical pollution levels of groundwater, mainly due to over-abstraction and improper disposal of wastewater (Qahman & Larabi, 2006;Shomar et al, 2006;Yassin et al, 2006;Shomar et al, 2010a;Shomar, 2011b;Abbas et al, 2013;Jabal et al, 2015). Nevertheless, the incidence of waterborne diseases among the population of Gaza strip has not been given sufficient attention by previous studies.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Microbiological Quality of Drinking Water and Prevalence of Waterborne Diseases in the Gaza Strip, Palestine: A Narrative Review

Abuzerr¹,

Nasseri²,

Yunesian³

et al. 2019

GEP

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Water quality and occurrence of water-borne diseases in the Gaza strip are vivid examples for most developing societies. In recent years, the quality and quantity of groundwater, the only source of waters in the Gaza strip, have deteriorated markedly. A general rundown of the infrastructure and water distribution networks, in particular, the spread of cesspools, excessive use of pesticides and fertilizers, and improper treatment and disposal of wastewater remain major contributing factors to the continued deterioration in the water status in the Gaza strip. Without a doubt, the (Israeli)-Palestinian conflict had a clear negative impact on the water sector in the Gaza strip. Apparently, there is a dire need to adopt the WHO's water safety plan in the management of Gaza's water supply systems from catchment to consumer's tap in order to maintain the sustainability and quality of water resources and prevent outbreaks of waterborne diseases. Therefore, this review has been prepared to highlight the overall picture of the water dilemma in the Gaza strip in the last years and in addition, to identify the sources, sorts, levels, and health risks of consequence to microbial contamination of water. The impact of political conflicts on the water sector in the Gaza strip also was reviewed.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Microbiological Quality of Drinking Water and Prevalence of Waterborne Diseases in the Gaza Strip, Palestine: A Narrative Review

Abuzerr¹,

Nasseri²,

Yunesian³

et al. 2019

GEP

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“…The difficulties of the Palestinian people have not gone unnoticed by the international community with many countries providing hundreds of millions of dollars in funding and support over recent decades (World Bank Group, 2018). There has also been extensive research undertaken to understand the infrastructure requirements for Palestine in water supply (Bohannon, 2006;Brooks and Trottier, 2010;EWASH, 2015;Haddad, 2009;Ludwig, 2016;McNeill et al, 2009;PWA, 2011PWA, , 2012PWA, , 2014Shadeed and Almasri, 2010;Shomar, 2011;Shomar et al, 2010;Weibel and Elmughanni, 2014;World Bank, 2009; in energy supply (Abu Hamed et al, 2012;De Meij et al, 2016;Evans, 2015;Henderson, 2014;Ibrik, 2009;Juaidi et al, 2016;MAS, 2014;UNISPAL, 2007;World Bank, 2014a; in wastewater management (Abusharbak, 2004;Dotan et al, 2016;Fatta et al, 2004;Nassar, 2015); in solid waste management (D-Waste, 2014;El Baba et al, 2015;Isaac et al, 2005;Sa'di); in transport (Garb, 1998;MoPWH, 2012;Suisman et al, 2005); and in digital communications (Paltrade, 2010;World Bank, 2016). Our analysis suggests these research efforts have been well prioritised in water and energy, with emphasis appropriately given to the acute crisis in the Gaza Strip.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…More recently, researchers and agencies have begun to look across multiple sectors to fill these gaps. However, due to their inherent complexities such analyses have been limited to just two sectors, such as water and wastewater (Afifi, 2006;Eting, 2015;Fatta et al, 2004;McNeill et al, 2009;PWA, 2012;Shomar, 2011), water and energy (PWA, 2015), and energy and waste (Ouda, 2013). Analyses looking at the water and energy nexus have also been conducted at a Middle East regional level to allow for resources to be shared and traded across borders (Gabriel et al, 2016;Siddiqi and Anadon, 2011).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A systems-based assessment of Palestine's current and future infrastructure requirements

Hickford

Adshead

Thacker

et al. 2019

Journal of Environmental Management

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The occupied Palestinian territories of West Bank and Gaza Strip are currently experiencing many challenges in the provision of infrastructure services for their inhabitants. This includes an undersupply of infrastructure services across multiple sectors-an issue exacerbated by population growth, increasing urbanisation, economic growth and climate change. We address this challenge by providing a systemsbased assessment of Palestine's infrastructure requirements and identifying broad strategies for how those needs might be met. This assessment involved four key components including: 1) defining and assessing the current system and planned infrastructure investments; 2) assessing potential future demand for infrastructure services; 3) identifying alternative strategies for future infrastructure provision beyond planned investments; and 4) analysing the performance of each strategy against a series of key performance indicators. Results from the assessment highlight the magnitude of the current and future need for urgent infrastructure investment in Palestine. The most immediate need is to alleviate the water crises in Gaza Strip, which will require at least twice as much water infrastructure investment over the coming decade than is currently in the pipeline, even if the goal is only to achieve the most basic World Health Organisation water availability requirements. To move beyond this protracted state of crises will then require a doubling of investments across all sectors to bring Palestine up to the standards of services already enjoyed by its neighbours. Such investments can have even greater impact on delivery of infrastructure services through the strategic use of interdependencies between infrastructure sectors, such as water re-use and energy-from-waste. In the pursuit of global sustainable development, the systems-based approach presented here provides an important first step in the assessment of infrastructure needs and opportunities for any country. It is particularly important for states like Palestine where key resources, such as water and energy, are so acutely constrained.

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“…Yet for this to become a reality, a stable peace with Israel, a stable Palestinian government, and the political will to adapt new technologies and governance structures for sustainable water and sanitation systems. Until then Gazans will continue to be deprived of this basic necessity essential to good health and high quality of life and to life itself [37]. Based on long term-research in the Middle East, Figure 3 summarizes the general framework of research on water issues.…”

Section: Water and Environment In Palestine: Past And Presentmentioning

confidence: 99%

Water Resources, Water Quality and Human Health in Regions of Extreme Stress: Middle East

Shomar¹

2013

J Earth Sci Clim Change

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Water is the most important natural resource in the Arab World and will only become more important in the future. Water demand generally rises in conjunction with population increase and economic growth. Water shortage and scarcity will add a layer of political uncertainty in the region and potential conflicts may appear in several countries and may expand to more countries that share the same water source or groundwater aquifer. The symptoms and influences of climate change in the Arab region have been expressed in extreme harsh environments affecting all components and levels of societies and economies. Elevated poverty, food and water scarcity, migration and instability, flooding and catastrophes, diseases and mortality, are all real examples. This review aims to summarize the multi-disciplinary issues of the water crisis in the Arab World; to review the recent available data and information describing the status of water in the region; to highlight the urgency for synergy and integration in all scales and levels; and to propose scientific and affordable mitigation measures and solutions for the survival of the existing and coming generations. Water as an Important ResourceWater always has been the key element of life on Planet Earth, and it always will be. It is the top priority for all cultures, religions, civilizations and social communities. Water influences every aspect of human life and plays a key role in every nation's progress. Water availability and water quality have a direct relationship with the food system and nutrition, urban development and expansion, financial livelihood, and community health and hygiene [1].The limited natural resources are experiencing growing scarcity, depletion and outright disappearance in several parts of the earth. Loss of land quality and pollution resulting from population pressures, urbanization, industrialization and economic expansion present a threat to the continued function of the earth's surface, particularly in arid, semi-arid and tropical regions where a long history of chemical decomposition of rocks has made the land surface environment especially vulnerable [2].A very complex reality emerges when we realize that seven billion people rely on the incredibly limited fresh water resource that is not unavailable due to its permanent location in the ground or atmosphere. This available fresh water accounts for 1% of all fresh water and is distributed disproportionately throughout the globe. The varying spatial distribution of fresh water, resulting from multifaceted systems of rainfall in space and time, fundamentally impacts the ecosystems and infrastructures on which the livelihood of humans rely [3]. Consequently, water and sanitation are now treasured as fundamental human rights. In spite of continuous efforts by the United Nations, 884 million people do not have reliable access to clean water and 2.6 billion lack basic sanitation [4].As a moving resource, water links mountains to lowlands and urban populations to rural upland dwellers. Its managem...

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Water scenarios in the Gaza Strip, Palestine: thirst, hunger and disease

Cited by 16 publications

References 52 publications

Microbiological Quality of Drinking Water and Prevalence of Waterborne Diseases in the Gaza Strip, Palestine: A Narrative Review

Microbiological Quality of Drinking Water and Prevalence of Waterborne Diseases in the Gaza Strip, Palestine: A Narrative Review

A systems-based assessment of Palestine's current and future infrastructure requirements

Water Resources, Water Quality and Human Health in Regions of Extreme Stress: Middle East

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