UAE Boosts Water Relief For Gaza Through Desalination Plants And Well-Drilling Initiatives

ABU DHABI, Oct 8 – The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is continuing to supply clean water to Palestinian families across the Gaza Strip under its “Operation Chivalrous Knight 3” humanitarian mission, deploying desalination infrastructure, well-drilling projects, and tanker fleets to ease severe water shortages.

The humanitarian initiative focuses on supporting both local residents and displaced communities facing ongoing access disruptions to essential public utilities.

Pipeline connections linked to UAE desalination plants situated on the Egyptian side initially began pumping water in December 2023, delivering clean water to approximately one million displaced individuals in Rafah, southern Gaza.

Desalination Plants, Pipeline Expansion, and Local Distribution

To address regional supply deficits, UAE relief teams established six specialized desalination plants under the Operation Chivalrous Knight 3 framework:

• Khan Younis Extension: In August 2025, humanitarian teams extended a 7.5-kilometre water pipeline into Khan Younis, delivering five million litres of daily drinking water to roughly 700,000 residents.
• Well Construction & Fleet Mobilization: Field teams have drilled 121 water wells benefiting nearly 600,000 people and deployed 37 specialized water tankers to affected areas, including recent deliveries in September 2026.
• Storage and Infrastructure: The operation has supplied 20,000 gallons of stored water alongside 270 distribution storage tanks to streamline community-level water collection for families.
• Network Maintenance: Emergency crews continue maintaining local pipelines and establishing neighborhood distribution hubs to secure stable daily access to basic water supplies.

The water supply initiatives form a core component of the UAE’s broader humanitarian efforts aimed at maintaining essential service infrastructure and supporting basic civilian needs throughout the Gaza Strip.

–NMT