Mazen Al-Banna, director of the Authority, pointed out that the water dropped to significant levels due to excessive pumping, and at the same time considered the Israeli blockade responsible for the crisis.

Al-Banna stressed that the water from the Mediterranean Sea increasingly seeping in is added to this situation.

Consequently, the salinity in the wells reached levels that represent a serious threat to the life of the population, stressed the official on the occasion of World Water Day, celebrated every March 22th.

Al-Banna cited water contamination due to sewage leakage due to lack of infrastructure in various areas of Gaza as another serious problem.

Israel is primarily responsible for the crisis, not only for keeping the territory blocked since 2007, but also because the refugees make up 67 percent of the total population, he denounced.

Al-Banna pointed out that the Tel Aviv authorities have kept the commercial crossings on the common border closed ever since, which prevents the entry of materials necessary to implement sanitation projects.

pgh/llp/jcm/rob