With the support of KSrelief UNICEF delivers water and santation supplies to children and families in the Gaza Strip

RIYADH, 18 March 2026 – In a context where damaged infrastructure and limited access to safe water continue to put children’s lives at risk, UNICEF, with the support of the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre (KSrelief), has delivered lifesaving water, sanitation and hygiene services to hundreds of thousands of vulnerable people across the Gaza Strip.

The destruction of homes and essential infrastructure across the Gaza Strip over the past two years has left tens of thousands of families living in makeshift shelters and tents. Limited access to safe, piped water—combined with winter flooding and uncleared debris—has created hazardous conditions where bacteria and rodents thrive. As a result, diseases such as Hepatitis A and Acute Watery Diarrhea have spread rapidly, posing serious risks to families, particularly young children.

With the support of KSrelief, UNICEF provided emergency water supply services and critical hygiene items to over 250,000 people in the southern and middle areas of the Gaza Strip. The intervention addressed urgent humanitarian needs by ensuring access to safe water and essential sanitation supplies in some of the most affected communities.

To further stabilize water access, more than 500 large water storage tanks were distributed to community shelters, health facilities, and temporary learning spaces across North and South Gaza, benefiting around 140,000 people. By expanding local storage capacity, these installations have helped ensure a more reliable and continuous supply of safe water in highly vulnerable settings.

Through this project, UNICEF has enabled families to meet minimum humanitarian standards, providing at least six liters per person per day of water for domestic use and nine liters per person per day of safe drinking water. This support has been critical in reducing the spread of waterborne diseases and protecting the health and dignity of affected communities.

“We are deeply grateful to KSrelief for its generous and timely support to children and families in the Gaza Strip. At a time when infrastructure has been devastated and access to safe water remains critically constrained, this partnership has enabled UNICEF to deliver lifesaving water, sanitation and hygiene services to the most vulnerable communities. In emergencies, safe water is not a luxury — it is fundamental for survival, preventing disease, and preserving the dignity of every child. Through this collaboration, we are helping protect children’s health today while restoring a measure of stability and hope for families facing unimaginable hardship,” said Ms. Lana Al Wreikat, UNICEF Gulf Area Director.

UNICEF and KSrelief remain committed to supporting vulnerable families in Gaza and strengthening essential WASH services to safeguard children’s health and well-being.

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