August 18: 2010

Google “contaminated water in the Gaza Strip” under Google images and you will find a picture of water being poured from one white bucket to another. All very well except the water is from a well that has been contaminated by sewage and supply such as that is the only water available to the majority of the population in the Gaza Strip.

Nearly 93% of available water in the Gaza Strip is deemed to fall below WHO standards and is therefore unfit for human consumption. Yet for the poor this is sometimes the only water that is available to them. What is happening is that those forced to consume contaminated water is being slowly poisoned. Children, old people and the infirm are those most at risk and are exposed to severe health problems such as mental disabilities.

It is Interpal’s aim to bring to the UK a quantity of water from the Gaza Strip to show its donors and supporters. If people here are not willing to drink the water then they must be prepared take action to do all they can to ensure that the people of Gaza are able to access fresh, clean, safe drinking water. It costs £40 to provide a 250 litre plastic water tank for a family and only £10 a month to fill that tank with fresh, clean water that is safe to drink. That is only a fraction more than the cost an adult cinema ticket here in the UK and it can save lives. Interpal’s water project is a main focus in the Gaza Strip, but Interpal also works to provide a secure and reliable water supply in its other areas of operation such as the refugee camps in south Lebanon.

Water is an essential and vital part of life, and those with the means and the ability should be able to do more to provide much needed assistance to those who need it most. Take action today and help Interpal break the cycle of water poverty in some of the world’s most deprived areas. This is all the more urgent as most Palestinians are observing the fast of Ramadan in the heat of summer when the days are longer.

Don’t delay, don8 now or ring Interpal on 020 8961 9993 with your payment card at the ready!