GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip — The poor supply of water in the Gaza Strip has pushed many unemployed to establish water desalination plants; the water is then distributed to households in private tank trucks. These plants have become the only choice for drinking water for many Gazans, at a time when the political situation and repeated wars have hindered the completion of all international projects aimed at meeting Gaza’s need for drinking water.

Ali al-Mabhouh, owner of a water tank truck in the Nasr neighborhood in western Gaza City, said that his work has saved him from unemployment as he is the only provider of his family of four.

“I work at a private desalination plant, EQWA, along with 60 other workers, and we distribute desalinated water in our private tank trucks to homes,” he told Al-Monitor, stressing that the volume of the daily requirement of desalinated water is on the rise.

Hosni al-Masri, who also works as a driver delivering desalinated water to households, told Al-Monitor that the water tank truck he drives supports three families. He could not afford to buy his own truck, so he shares one vehicle with his cousins.