The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) warned on Sunday that families across the Gaza Strip may soon “die of thirst” amid the near-total collapse of the territory’s water systems.

In a statement published on X, UNRWA revealed that only 40% of Gaza’s drinking water production facilities remain functional, as a result of relentless Israeli bombardments, forced displacement orders, and a months-long blockade on fuel entry.

“Across #Gaza, families could die of thirst,” the agency warned, underscoring the humanitarian catastrophe deepening under siege conditions. The damage to infrastructure and sustained restrictions on aid and fuel have brought the water sector to the brink of total failure.

UNRWA said that its capacity to deliver water has been slashed by half compared to levels seen during the brief ceasefire, which ended more than 100 days ago. Without fuel, water pumps, desalination units, and distribution systems have largely ground to a halt, exacerbating the suffering of millions already facing starvation, displacement, and bombardment.

“Due to continued bombardments, forced displacement orders, and Israeli Authorities' ban to bring in fuel for more than 100 days, UNRWA is now only able to provide around half of the cubic metres of water it was able to during the ceasefire,” the statement read.

The latest alert follows weeks of growing international concern over the dire humanitarian conditions in Gaza. Human rights organizations and UN bodies have repeatedly warned that the denial of fuel and water access amounts to collective punishment and may constitute a grave breach of international law.

With temperatures rising during the summer months, the risk of waterborne diseases and mass dehydration is escalating sharply, particularly among children and the elderly.

Humanitarian agencies continue to call for an immediate and sustained flow of aid, the restoration of fuel deliveries, and the protection of critical civilian infrastructure. But as the siege tightens and supplies dwindle, time is running out for Gaza’s civilians—many of whom are already enduring famine-like conditions.

Rejecting international calls for a ceasefire, the Israeli army has pursued a brutal offensive against Gaza since October 2023, killing more than 56,000 Palestinians, most of them women and children.