Israeli company helps provide clean water to Palestinians in Gaza Strip

by Karen Faulkner, Worthy News Correspondent

(Worthy News) – A Jewish-Israeli businessman is helping Palestinians in the Gaza Strip to access clean water, the Times of Israel reports. Through his Israel-based company Watergen, Mikhail Mirilashvili has provided atmospheric water generators to Gaza in an effort to relieve the chronic drinking-water crisis there.

Controlled by the Hamas terrorist organization, the Gaza Strip was put under an Israeli-Egyptian blockade in order to prevent Palestinian militants from importing weapons with which to attack Israel. With the blockade in place since 2007, Palestinians in Gaza have suffered critical economic and infrastructure crises that include regular power outages and a shortage of drinking water.

Mirilashvili’s company Watergen has developed atmospheric water generators that can produce 5,000 to 6,000 liters of drinking water per day, depending on the air’s humidity, the Times of Israel reports. And Mirilashvili has determined to use his company to help with the water crisis in Gaza: “Our goal was that everyone on Earth could be supplied with drinkable water… It was immediately clear that we had to help our neighbors first,” he told reporters.

Just a few generators have begun operating in the Strip, and there is a need for much more assistance, the Times of Israel reports. However, Palestinian engineer Fathi Sheikh Khalil said in a statement: “It’s a start.”

According to the United Nations, just 3% of Gaza’s water meets international standards. Several studies have shown increased health problems in the Gaza population are likely connected to the poor water quality, the Times of Israel reports.

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