Need for Clean Water and Other Aid Continues in Gaza Despite Ceasefire
Over the course of 2025, Peace Winds delivered more than 13 million liters of clean water in Gaza, ensuring that 80,000 people had some to drink, bathe, and prepare meals. However, despite the ceasefire, families still face incredible adversity. Many had hoped that they might be able to begin the process of rebuilding and returning to their homes. But the majority of Gaza’s population continues to live in tents or evacuation shelters. Harsh winter weather has made matters worse, with strong winds upending tents and heavy rains causing them to flood.
Floods have also caused further damage to water-related infrastructure in Gaza. At least 80% of its water systems had already been damaged or destroyed in Israeli military attacks. This has left many families with no choice but to drink salty or contaminated water, fueling outbreaks of diarrhea and disease. The health implications are compounded by the fact that the majority of hospitals there have been badly damaged, and the health system is at a breaking point.
International non-governmental organizations (NGOs) like Peace Winds provide about 42% of all water, sanitation, and hygiene services in Gaza. For the majority of families, deliveries by tanker truck are the only means of accessing clean, safe drinking water.
“Access to water is fundamental to human life,” one Gaza resident told us. “Unsafe drinking water is tantamount to a death sentence, and acute diarrheal diseases are equally dangerous.”
Peace Winds has been working with local partners to deliver food, hygiene supplies, and clean water to displaced Palestinians for more than two years. This includes regular water deliveries that directly serve evacuation shelters in Gaza City, as well as displaced families living in tents nearby.
Without deliveries directly to shelters, many displaced people are forced to risk traveling long distances, purchase water from private vendors at high costs, or rely on potentially contaminated water from free distribution points in the streets. The health and safety risks are especially problematic for children, who make up about half of the recipients of Peace Winds’ water distribution.
“I am a widow, and my children are still young,” one woman shared. “We can’t afford to wait for hours in unsafe conditions near crowded public water trucks. But Peace Winds provides safe water regularly to the shelter, which makes a huge difference for us.”
Now, we are delivering about 38,000 liters per day, reaching more than 20,000 people.
At the same time, 37 international NGOs operating in Gaza received official notice last week from the Israeli government that they would be required to cease operations by the end of February. Fortunately, Peace Winds is still able to operate, but 53 organizations, including Peace Winds, have warned that this will have dire consequences for civilians in desperate need of humanitarian aid. International NGOs play an irreplaceable role in providing not only clean water and sanitation, but in all aspects of humanitarian aid in Gaza, including food security, healthcare, shelter, and education.
As we enter a new year, we are hopeful for an end to this conflict and daily hardship. However, the people of Gaza continue to live below minimum standards, without the ability to rebuild their homes and lives. Peace Winds’ commitment to supporting families in Gaza remains unchanged. We hope that you and the international community will join us in working to ensure that all people throughout Gaza receive the assistance they need in accordance with humanitarian principles. Your donations help us continue this mission.