Minderoo funds critical water and sanitation infrastructure for the people of Gaza

04 Oct 2024 – Minderoo Foundation has announced a US$2.5 million (more than A$3.6 million) contribution to help address the serious health risks in Gaza caused by water scarcity and inadequate sanitation services.

The funding – lifting Minderoo Foundation’s total humanitarian assistance for Gaza to almost US$28 million since October 2023 – will support the Palestinian Water Authority (PWA), UNICEF and other local partners in the delivery of critical water and sanitation infrastructure across Gaza.

Some 1.8 million people — including more than 900,000 children — in the Gaza Strip require some form of humanitarian water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) assistance.

Since the escalation of hostilities following the 7 October 2023 attack on Israel, UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell has repeatedly emphasized the lethal impact of the WASH crisis for children in Gaza.

“The lack of clean water and safe sanitation is on the verge of becoming a catastrophe,” UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell told the UN Security Council last year. “Unless access to clean water is urgently restored, more civilians, including children, will fall ill or die from dehydration or waterborne diseases.”

Speaking earlier this week from New York on the sidelines of the 2024 United Nations General Assembly, Dr Andrew Forrest AO acknowledged the importance of working in humanitarian partnership with the people of Palestine.

“Since October last year, Minderoo Foundation has been in direct conversations with aid agencies on the ground to assist those unwittingly caught up in the resulting humanitarian crisis – particularly the children and families of Gaza,” Dr Forrest said.

“This is an important collaboration between the Palestinian Water Authority, UNICEF and Minderoo to deliver fundamental community infrastructure.

“Water access is a basic human right and must be available to all, especially children.”

Minderoo’s funding will cover the procurement of water tankers, solar powered desalination units, new solarized water wells, the installation of sewage pumping stations and the repair of existing systems through local employment.

Nicola Forrest AO said the collaboration between Minderoo, PWA and UNICEF would ensure access to safe water and sanitation services for 200,000 people including 80,000 children.

“Our focus has centred on filling the gaps that our partners on the ground tell us exist. We are backing innovative, pragmatic solutions that will hopefully alleviate the suffering of innocent people, especially children,” she said.

Since October 2023, Minderoo Foundation has provided nearly US$28 million to deliver safe water, sanitation, medical supplies, medical consultations and food aid for tens of thousands of people in Gaza.

From this time, Minderoo has remained closely engaged, deepening its understanding of the situation on the ground through extensive engagement with active NGOs in Gaza, key UN agencies and in-person visits.

Minderoo Foundation has also used its position to advocate globally for greater aid support from like-minded partners and organisations.