Gaza Supermarket Shelves Emptied of Water

A journalist struggled to find water at several shops in central Gaza on Tuesday, October 17, following a warning from the United Nations over the weekend that Gaza was running out of drinking water.

Hind Khoudary documented her search, noting beverage coolers with a small supply of energy drinks and juice, but no water. Khoudary noted that one of the supermarkets she visited said they will not be restocking.

Khoudary is eventually able to secure a cup of water from a supermarket owner, but says the store does not have any water to sell.

In an update on Monday, the UN’s Palestinian refugee agency, UNRWA, said, “People across Gaza have severely limited access to clean drinking water. As a last resort, people are consuming brackish water from agricultural wells, triggering serious concerns over the spread of waterborne diseases. ” Credit: Hind Khoudary via Storyful

Video transcript

HIND KHOUDARY: We came this morning to bring anything to drink. And as you see, it's totally empty. There is only a couple of something like Red Bull and, like, Fayrouz and a bit of juice here. And that's the only thing left in this supermarket. And they say they won't restock.

I came to the supermarket and asked if there was water. But this place is also empty. And the supermarket owner asked me to drink, like, to pour in a cup and drink. But he doesn't have any water to sell.

The thing is, like, we're really thirsty, you know, like, talking all day, reporting all day. And, like, you're so thirsty. Like, you need, like, to stay hydrated all the time. And you can't even find water to drink. That's real.

We came this morning to bring anything to drink. And as you see, it's totally empty. There is only a couple of something like Red Bull and, like, Fayrouz and a bit of juice here. And that's the only thing left in this supermarket. And they say they won't restock.

I came to the supermarket and asked if there was water. But this place is also empty. And the supermarket owner asked me to drink, like, to pour in a cup and drink. But he doesn't have any water to sell.

The thing is, like, we're really thirsty, you know, like, talking all day, reporting all day. And, like, you're so thirsty. Like, you need, like, to stay hydrated all the time. And you can't even find water to drink. That's real.