Ramallah, May 10 (QNA) - The Palestinian Water Authority (PWA) has warned of an imminent humanitarian catastrophe threatening more than 2.3 million Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, due to the near-total crumbling of water and sanitation services due to the ongoing Israeli onslaught on the enclave.

In a statement on Saturday, the PWA highlighted that the battering of infrastructure by the Israeli occupation forces, the cutting off of electricity, and the blocking of fuel supplies as well as essential equipment have led to a near-total cessation of water service provision, with officials affirming that Gaza has effectively become a zone dying of thirst.

As per technical appraisals, 85 percent of water and sanitation facilities in the Strip have been badly damaged, with water extraction volumes plummeting by 70 to 80 percent, consequently reducing per capita water consumption to between 3 and 5 liters per day, well below the minimum threshold recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) in emergency contexts, the statement read.

The statement further warned that the discharge of untreated wastewater into residential areas, coupled with the overflow of rainwater basins, poses a dire risk of disease outbreaks, particularly as residents are increasingly compelled to rely on saline, non-potable water sources.

In addition, the PWA stressed that Israel's policies constitute an unconscionable violation of international humanitarian law, including the Fourth Geneva Convention, the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide, and the Rome Statute.

It called on the international community to swiftly act to halt the aggression, lift the blockade, provide protection to technical personnel, and back the efforts of the Palestinian government in emergency interventions and recovery plans. (QNA)