Water shortages are expected to worsen across Lebanon as pumps, which propel water from reservoirs to water tanks, go offline. (Credit: Mohamed Azakir/Reuters)
BEIRUT – More than 4 million people, including 1 million refugees, are at immediate risk of losing access to safe water in Lebanon due to worsening power cuts and fuel shortages, the United Nations’ Children Fund warned on Friday.
“UNICEF estimates that most water pumping will gradually cease across the country in the next four to six weeks,” a statement released by UNICEF said.
The country is grappling with economic, electricity and fuel crises that are devastating the country’s water sector. As a result, the country’s four decentralized water establishments have been forced to slash operating hours for their water pumping stations. Three of the establishments — encompassing southern Lebanon, Beirut and Mount Lebanon and the Bekaa — told L’Orient Today in June that they expected further reductions to come, which would lead to more widespread water shortages as electricity cuts persist.
“Unless urgent action is taken, hospitals, schools and essential public facilities will be unable to function, and over four million people will be forced to resort to unsafe and costly sources of water, putting children’s health and hygiene at risk,” the UN agency said.
Lebanon’s state electricity utility is now able to supply only a few hours of power per day, forcing homes and businesses to rely on diesel-dependent private generators to operate.
However, fuel shortages mean that water establishments, like other industries across the country, are unable to secure enough diesel for generators to function long enough to cover the lengthening cuts in the state power supply. On Wednesday, the General Directorate of Oil announced that main oil distributors in the north and south would halt diesel deliveries for all but emergency and exceptional cases.