An appeal from CMWU to provide generators and spare parts, as only 190 of 540 water and sanitation facilities operate at partial capacity.
#Appeal
Urgent Need to Provide and Supply Electric Generators and Spare Parts for Water and Sanitation Facilities
As a result of the war and the harsh military operations on the Gaza Strip that began after October 7, 2023, which have had catastrophic effects on all aspects of life, and for six months all the electricity lines and supplies passing from Israel to the Gaza Strip, with a total capacity of 120 megawatts, have been cut off, and the only power generation plant available in Gaza had its production approach zero one week after fuel from Israel stopped arriving, causing the loss of an additional 80 megawatts. Therefore, all the backup diesel-powered generators available wherever they are at water and sanitation facilities, with a coordinated diesel fuel supply program, have become the main source of the electric power supply needed mainly to secure life-support systems for producing water fit for human use and pumping sewage across residential areas, displacement areas, and shelters in all governorates of the Gaza Strip.
Moreover, only 190 out of 540 water and sanitation facilities in the Gaza Strip are now operating partially, with the daily operating time limited to no more than 10 hours a day, with water production not exceeding 52,000 m3/day, representing 15-20% of pre-war daily water demand. The current diesel-powered electric generators, with ratings ranging from (50 KVA to 1600 KVA), have become excessively used outside the recommended operational conditions and have been operating for six months without replacement units and remaining spare parts after the bombing and destruction of CMWU's central warehouse, which is the warehouse critically needed to carry out preventive maintenance work and various repairs. This has led to numerous faults and damage.
The continuation of such operating conditions putting pressure on the current generators, with the rise in summer temperatures, will seriously and negatively affect the entire situation, without new replacement generators and spare parts, which are currently not permitted to enter through the border crossings for security reasons under the designation "dual use".
Accordingly, CMWU urgently appeals to all UN agencies, international donors, and international partners to facilitate the supply and entry of new diesel-powered generators, spare parts, and specialized repairs into the Gaza Strip, which will have a significant impact in easing the harsh humanitarian situation and protecting the operation of the current limited number of operationally available water and sanitation facilities, and avoiding further deterioration and collapse in the water supply and distribution systems and sewage collection and pumping systems serving the various residential and displacement areas.
The list of immediate and emergency generator interventions outlined below will significantly help maintain the operation of essential water and sanitation facilities, including seawater desalination facilities in the Gaza Strip, by securing electric power supplies.
Supplying diesel-fueled power generators ranging in capacity from 50 KVA to 500 KVA.
Supplying spare parts and consumables for the current 190 generators
Specialized repair and refurbishment service contracts for the current generators
