Latest news with #Shatat
Al Etihad
10-05-2025
- General
- Al Etihad
Operation Chivalrous Knight 3 launches 4th phase of well maintenance project in Gaza Strip
10 May 2025 19:30 GAZA (WAM)UAE's humanitarian initiative, Operation Chivalrous Knight 3, has launched the fourth phase of its water supply project for residents of the Gaza Strip, supporting the maintenance of central wells across the municipalities of the initiative is being carried out in cooperation with the Coastal Municipalities Water Utility (CMWU), with the aim of enhancing the municipalities' capacity to deliver water to Palestinian citizens amid the escalating humanitarian crisis, and ensuring the continuity of basic phase includes the repair of approximately 28 non-operational wells across various governorates in Gaza, aiming to provide water access to around 700,000 people, thereby alleviating their harsh living Al-Nayrab, Media Director of Operation Chivalrous Knight 3 in Gaza, praised the efforts of UAE humanitarian organisations and charitable associations, which have consistently supported all sectors in Gaza. Key supporters of this project include the Sharjah Charity International, the Saqr Bin Mohammed Al Qasimi Foundation, and Dar Al Ber Arbaei, Deputy Chairman of the Support Committee for Operation Chivalrous Knight 3 in Gaza, explained that this is the fourth water-related project, following three previous initiatives: the distribution of water tankers delivering water daily to thousands of citizens, the drilling of primitive 'Nazzaz' wells along the southern coasts, and the drilling of submersible wells to improve water access for residents suffering Shatat, Deputy Director General for Technical Affairs at the CMWU in Gaza, stated that the humanitarian initiative has served as a key lifeline and emergency support effort to ease the suffering of Gaza's population. He highlighted that the fourth phase of the central well maintenance project is one of the operation's most impactful initiatives to date. Operation Chivalrous Knight 3 continues its humanitarian mission across all governorates of Gaza, aiming to alleviate the hardships faced by residents and facilitate their access to essential and life-sustaining services.
Al Etihad
06-05-2025
- Business
- Al Etihad
Operation Chivalrous Knight 3 signs MoU to drill, equip potable water wells in Gaza
6 May 2025 19:27 GAZA (WAM)As part of ongoing efforts to enhance essential services in the Gaza Strip, Operation Chivalrous Knight 3 has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Coastal Municipalities Water Utility to implement a project for drilling and equipping potable water wells in the initiative is part of broader efforts to improve infrastructure, and ensure access to clean water amid the severe crisis and hardships faced by project aims to provide potable water across various regions of the Gaza Strip, helping to alleviate the growing water crisis. This phase will involve drilling advanced, high-capacity wells, following two earlier stages, the first of which strengthened water supply lines from Egypt via a transmission pipeline to Rafah, and the second focused on primitive wells using the hand pump Al-Nairab, Media Director for Operation Chivalrous Knight 3 in Gaza, emphasised that the operation continues to implement humanitarian projects to ease daily hardships for Gaza's also underscored the operation's strong focus on the water crisis, which threatens 1.5 million residents, by supporting infrastructure and providing safe, usable water Shatat, Deputy Director-General of the Coastal Municipalities Water Utility, noted that the UAE has been among the first responders to assist Gaza's residents through Operation Chivalrous Knight 3. Since day one of the crisis, the UAE has launched a range of vital projects, particularly in the water confirmed that the current phase involves drilling two new wells in Deir al-Balah and Khan Younis, expected to meet the water needs of approximately 10,000 people, a significant step in addressing the worsening water shortage. This initiative represents another important milestone in the series of humanitarian interventions by Operation Chivalrous Knight 3, which aims to mitigate the suffering of Gaza's population and provide critical resources, especially in the face of severe challenges in the water sector.
CBC
10-03-2025
- Politics
- CBC
Gaza desalination plant could run out of clean water after Israel cuts off power supply
Palestinians in Gaza could be out of clean drinking water in a matter of days after Israel cut off its electricity supply to the territory, which drastically slashed operations at a water desalination plant. Omar Shatat, deputy director of the Coastal Municipalities Water Utility, said Palestinians in central and southern areas of Gaza rely on the desalination plant in Deir el-Balah for clean water. "There will be a big struggle in supplying water," Shatat told CBC News on Monday from Gaza City. "We need a solution. Potable water is the basis of life." Israeli Energy Minister Eli Cohen announced Sunday that he had ordered the Israel Electric Corporation (IEC) not to sell electricity to Gaza. Cohen said it was a means of applying pressure on Palestinian militant group Hamas to free its remaining hostages amid a ceasefire standoff between Israel and Hamas. Roughly 400,000 people in the affected areas will no longer be able to rely on water from the plant, which is now using benzene to operate — and that could run out in several days, according to Shatat. Some 50 per cent of the water the plant supplied was potable water that was clean for drinking, he said. Before power was cut off on Sunday, the plant was providing about 18,000 cubic metres of water each day. Now, it is only able to provide 3,000 cubic metres of water daily as it continues to run on benzene. Gazans have relied largely on backup generators and solar power for electricity after Israel suspended its power supply to Gaza following the Hamas-led attacks on Oct. 7, 2023, leaving much of the war-torn enclave in the dark. Hamas spokesperson Hazem Qassem said the desalination plant — which is the only one with a power line to Israel —was being supplied with some electricity before it was cut off on Sunday. "This decision shows that the occupation [Israel] pays no attention to any humanitarian or international laws," Qassem told CBC News on Monday. Under international humanitarian law, Israel, as the occupying power, is required to make sure the basic needs of Gazans are met, including food and water. Decision is 'catastrophic' Water infrastructure has been destroyed in the territory amid the 17-month-long war, which impeded the delivery of clean water and fuel to operate water treatment plants in Gaza. Mohammad Thabet, spokesperson for the Gaza Electricity Distribution Company, told Reuters Israel's latest decision will would subject Gazans to "environmental and health risks." "The decision is catastrophic. Municipalities now will be obliged to let sewage water stream into the sea, which may result in environmental and health risks that go beyond the boundaries of Gaza," Thabet said. He noted that there was not enough fuel to operate standby generators in desalination and sewage plants, adding that the existing generators were outdated and hardly functional. Israel's move to cut off its power supply to Gaza comes a week after it blocked the entry of goods into the territory, part of a worsening standoff over a truce that has halted fighting for the past seven weeks. Aid, food blockade forces bakery closures The suspension of goods entering Gaza has taken a toll on the Palestinian enclave. Intended to pressure Hamas in ceasefire talks, the suspension applies to food, medicine and fuel imports. Hamas describes the measure as "collective punishment" and insists it will not be pushed into making concessions at the discussions. The UN Palestinian refugees agency UNRWA said the decision to halt humanitarian aid threatens the lives of civilians exhausted by 17 months of "brutal" war, adding that most of Gaza's 2.3 million people were dependent on aid. WATCH | Israel blocks entry of goods into Gaza last week: Israel says it will block all aid into Gaza until Hamas extends ceasefire 8 days ago Duration 2:15 Israel says it will continue to block all humanitarian assistance going into Gaza unless Hamas agrees to extend the first phase of the ceasefire deal, which expired on Saturday. Hamas wants to move directly into Phase 2 of the original agreement, which includes all Israeli forces withdrawing from Gaza. Nasser Al-Ajrami, head of the Gaza bakers' union, told Reuters that six out of the 22 bakeries still able to operate in the enclave had already shut after they ran out of cooking gas. "The remaining bakeries may close down in a week or so should they run out of diesel or flour, unless the crossing is reopened to allow the goods to flow," he said. "The 22 bakeries were not enough to meet the needs of the people. With six of them shutting down now, that would increase the demand for bread and worsen the condition," he added. The move has also led to a hike in the price of essential foods as well as fuel, forcing many to ration their meals. Displaced from her destroyed house and living in a tent in Khan Younis, 40-year-old Ghada al-Rakab said she is struggling to secure basic needs. The mother of six bakes some goods for her family and neighbours, sometimes renting out a makeshift clay oven for a nominal price.
