The UN records a three-fold increase in attacks on water supply systems.
The number of attacks on water, sanitation and hygiene facilities in armed conflict zones has increased sharply in recent years. According to the UNICEF report Water under fire, while fewer than 45 incidents were reported in eight countries in 2021, the number exceeded 135 in 15 countries in 2025.
The consequences are particularly serious for civilians. In Sudan, by March 2024, only one of the 13 water purification plants in the state of Khartoum was fully operational. In the Gaza Strip, more than 130 thousand meters of sewer networks have been destroyed since October 2023.
The lack of clean water threatens not only people's daily lives, but also the work of hospitals: it is more difficult to sterilize medical equipment, deliver babies and prepare baby food. Children are exposed to pollution, malnutrition and violence, and are often killed or injured while waiting for water.
The UN called on countries, parties to conflicts, donors and humanitarian organizations to ensure the protection of water and sanitation systems, emphasizing their vital importance for citizens.