Deir al Balah, Gaza Strip — In a significant step to alleviate Gaza’s deepening water crisis, the United Arab Emirates has announced the launch of the largest desalinated water supply initiative under its humanitarian campaign, Operation Chivalrous Knight 3.
The project aims to deliver clean drinking water to hundreds of thousands of displaced residents in southern Gaza. During a press conference held at the Coastal Municipalities Water Utility (CMWU) headquarters in Deir al Balah, officials revealed the construction of a 6.7-kilometre water transmission pipeline.
The new 315mm-wide line will channel desalinated water from the UAE-built facility in Egypt to a displacement zone situated between the Khan Younis and Rafah governorates in Gaza.
The pipeline is projected to supply 15 litres of potable water per person per day, reaching an estimated 600,000 people. With over 80 percent of Gaza’s water infrastructure destroyed in the ongoing conflict, this lifeline project is expected to play a vital role in restoring essential services to a population facing extreme hardship.
Sharif Al Nayrab, media director of Operation Chivalrous Knight 3 in Gaza, described the initiative as both a critical emergency response and a continuation of the UAE’s long-standing support for the Palestinian people.
“This new water pipeline is more than a rapid response to the urgent thirst crisis in Gaza; it is a continuation of the UAE’s unwavering commitment to supporting the Palestinian people, particularly in the face of the humanitarian disaster caused by war,” he said.
He noted that the UAE has been consistently at the forefront of relief efforts in Gaza, funding desalination stations, providing water tankers, drilling wells, and helping restore damaged water networks. This new project is the culmination of those efforts.
Omar Shatat, Deputy Director-General for Technical Affairs at CMWU, extended his gratitude to the UAE, acknowledging its critical role since the onset of the war. “These projects have helped municipalities maintain essential services despite overwhelming destruction,” he said.
Khalil Abu Shammala, a civil society representative in Gaza, highlighted the importance of safe water access in building resilience. “This initiative provides our communities not only with water but with hope and dignity,” he stated.
The new pipeline marks a milestone in Operation Chivalrous Knight 3’s continued efforts to restore critical infrastructure across Gaza. As the region grapples with the fallout of conflict, UAE-led humanitarian operations remain a crucial source of aid and recovery for its people.