providing safe drinking water to unrwa students in gaza

the challenge:

safe drinking water is not available on-site at UNRWA schools in the Gaza Strip

(Middle East Eye/Andrea DiCenzo)

Safe drinking water is not available on-site at all of UNRWA’s 278 schools in Gaza

  • Municipal and well water supplies available on-site are often too salty to drink

  • Water must be trucked into the schools, which is expensive, more prone to water-borne diseases, and the demand is hard to keep up with.

 the solution:

install solar-powered water desalination units at UNRWA schools

project details

Scope: Install a solar-powered water desalination unit on-site at one or more UNRWA schools

Cost: ~$24,500 - $26,000/school 

Timeline: 9 months

Outcome: Safe drinking water available on-site at one or more UNRWA schools 

Beneficiaries: 

  • Single shift school: ~1,000 students/school and teachers and administrators

  • Double shift school: ~2,000 students/school and teachers and administrators 

multiplying your impact

71% cost savings

On average, UNRWA saves $5,000/school/year by installing this solution. 

UNRWA could save $1.3M/year if all of its schools in Gaza switched to this solution!

safer school environment

More hygienic solution than trucking in water. 

Reduced exposure to water-borne diseases. 

Water deliveries no longer disrupt school activities. 

increased sustainability Green energy solution.

Unaffected by Gaza’s persistent power cuts, unlike electric-powered water desalination units. 

disaster preparedness

Many UNRWA schools serve as emergency shelters. 

Ensures safe drinking water is available for people seeking shelter in UNRWA schools.

 

the solar-powered water desalination unit installation

Project sustainability:

maintaining the solar-powered water desalination units

Maintenance Plan

  • The contractor is liable for one year after installation

  • After year one, UNRWA enters into long term agreements with qualified Palestinian vendors in Gaza

  • Standard annual maintenance: replace semi-permeable membranes

  • As issues arise: UNRWA school principals contact local UNRWA maintenance office for assessment and repair 

Maintenance Cost

  • $1,000/school/year 

ready to help?

If you or your organization are interested in providing safe drinking water to UNRWA students in Gaza by funding a water desalination unit(s), please get in touch using the form below.

partners

We’re thankful to the following partners who have already generously funded water desalination units for UNRWA schools across Gaza:

  • The Itzkowitch Family

  • Westminster Presbyterian Church