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The pipeline aiming to provide 15 liters of clean water per person each day -- benefiting an estimated 600,000 residents.
WAM
In a major step to address the escalating water crisis in Gaza, the United Arab Emirates has launched the region’s largest desalinated water delivery project under its ongoing humanitarian initiative, Operation Chivalrous Knight 3, WAM reported.
Announced during a press conference at the Coastal Municipalities Water Utility (CMWU) headquarters in Deir al-Balah, the project involves the construction of a 6.7-kilometer, 315mm-wide water pipeline that will supply desalinated water from Egypt to displacement zones between Khan Younis and Rafah.
The pipeline, now under construction, will link a UAE-built desalination plant on the Egyptian side of the border to areas in southern Gaza, aiming to provide 15 liters of clean water per person each day -- benefiting an estimated 600,000 residents.
With over 80% of Gaza’s water infrastructure damaged or destroyed due to the ongoing conflict, the new supply line is being seen as a lifeline for a population facing acute shortages of safe drinking water.
‘More than a water project’
Sharif Al-Nayrab, media director for Operation Chivalrous Knight 3 in Gaza, said the pipeline is part of a sustained UAE effort to respond to urgent humanitarian needs in the war-ravaged enclave.
“This pipeline is not just about addressing immediate thirst,” he said. “It’s part of a broader, long-term commitment by the UAE to support the Palestinian people through infrastructure, resilience, and humanitarian aid in times of deep crisis.”
Al-Nayrab highlighted the UAE’s consistent contributions to Gaza’s water sector -- including the construction of desalination plants, delivery of water tankers, drilling of wells, and maintenance of existing networks.
Omar Shatat, Deputy Director-General for Technical Affairs at the CMWU, praised the UAE’s continued presence on the humanitarian frontlines, noting that UAE-backed projects have enabled civil institutions and municipalities to sustain basic services under extraordinary circumstances.
Khalil Abu Shammala, a civil society representative in Gaza, echoed these sentiments, saying, “Access to clean water is vital for survival, especially during prolonged crises. The UAE’s efforts help ensure that even under siege, our people retain access to one of life’s most essential needs.”
A broader humanitarian mission
This latest initiative is part of a wider set of UAE-led operations under Chivalrous Knight 3, which focuses on rebuilding critical infrastructure and mitigating the humanitarian disaster in Gaza. The water pipeline is expected to ease the burden on overcrowded displacement areas and enhance local resilience amid ongoing conflict.
As work continues on the ground, the UAE’s expanding role in Gaza underscores its strategic approach to emergency aid -- focusing not just on relief, but also on the long-term sustainability of essential services.
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