The war that erupted on 7 October in Gaza has exacerbated the already dire conditions contributing to water scarcity, food insecurity, and energy vulnerability in the occupied Palestinian territory.
In response to this crisis, ESCWA released a new policy brief that examines the devastating impact of the war on Gaza on the water, food and energy sectors across the Strip, the West Bank and southern Lebanon. The brief underscores the critical importance of safeguarding access to essential services in accordance with international humanitarian law, and emphasizes refraining from using them as tools of war.
The brief also proposes a comprehensive recovery and development approach that addresses three interlinked dimensions: meeting immediate needs, tackling long-term systemic development challenges, and addressing the root causes of the conflict.
