Drought Forces W Bank into 'grave' water crisis
Pastor Dale Morgan
Drought Forces W Bank into 'grave' water crisis*
Israeli human rights group B'Tselem says the West Bank is facing grave
water shortages largely because Israel's "discriminatory" policies.
The group criticises the distribution of joint water resources and
limits placed by Israel on the Palestinian Authority's ability to drill
new wells.
"It will have serious repercussions on the economy and health," B'Tselem
said.
West Bank per capita water use is about 66 litres a day - just
two-thirds of the recommended international minimum.
The accumulated effects of a series of dry years would make matters
worse in the months to come, the group added.
The shortage will have serious repercussions on the economy and the
health of tens of thousands of Palestinians
B'Tselem
Obstacles to peace: Water
Per capita water consumption by Israeli settlers in the West Bank is 3.5
times that of Palestinians, B'Tselem says.
Water consumption per head of the population is calculated by including
the consumption of livestock.
In some parts of the northern West Bank, a largely agricultural area,
consumption is far below the overall average, B'Tselem says.
"The chronic water shortage results in large part from Israel's
discriminatory policy in distributing the joint water resources in the
West Bank and the limits it places on the Palestinian Authority's
ability to drill new wells," its statement says.
A recent United Nations report highlighted water shortages in the Gaza
Strip, and said a lack of spare parts and fuel meant sewage plants could
not function properly.
The Israeli military administration in the West Bank had no immediate
comment about the B'Tselem report.
A spokesman for Israel's water supplier told Jerusalem Post that it
provided 500 million cubic meters per year, which is 30% more than
required under peace accords signed in the mid-1990s.
He said Israel was facing water cutbacks and severe shortage itself but
continued to increase supply to Palestinians in the West Bank.