4 million people in Lebanon face water shortages: UNICEF

UNICEF Executive Director Henrietta Fore has warned that more than 4 million people in Lebanon could face a critical shortage of water or be cut off completely in the coming days due to a severe fuel crisis.

“Vital facilities such as hospitals and health centers have been without access to safe water due to electricity shortages, putting lives at risk,” Fore said in a statement on Saturday, according to Reuters.

“If four million people are forced to resort to unsafe and costly sources of water, public health and hygiene will be compromised, and Lebanon could see an increase in waterborne diseases, in addition to the surge in COVID-19 cases,” she said, calling for the urgent restoration of power supplies as the only solution to the continued operation of water services. She also urged the formation of a new government in Lebanon to tackle this crisis.

 Hamda Mustafa