Background

In June 2024, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) released their preliminary assessment of the environmental impact of the conflict in Gaza, which captures the immediate and long-term environmental and health consequences. 

What is clear is that Gaza is experiencing a profound humanitarian crisis, including unprecedented destruction of basic services necessary for human life, including water systems, wastewater treatment systems and medical facilities. 

While international actors have made strategic investments in expanding water production and treatment and waste management over several decades, most of these facilities (e.g., desalination facilities) have been damaged and destroyed, leaving the population of Gaza without access to clean water or treated sewage and increasingly exposed to waterborne illnesses.

Project Description

This project team will examine the humanitarian impacts of the war in Gaza, focusing on the provision of shelter and access to basic services, such as water and sanitation. The team will partner with Clean Shelter, an NGO based in Germany that is working in Gaza to provide essential emergency relief to internally displaced persons (IDPs) by offering sanitation, clean drinking water and shelter services. Despite huge logistical barriers, including only being able to use materials found and sold in Gaza, and operating within an ongoing conflict, Clean Shelter has managed to establish more than 1,000 facilities, including tents, toilets and community kitchens within six months. 

Team members will support Clean Shelter by developing a comprehensive assessment and plan for immediate, ongoing emergency relief in Gaza as well as longer term planning for rebuilding. Topics may include: 

• Background studies on the water situation in Gaza, including a survey of regional water legislation and policies.
• Research on how best to carry out the distribution of clean water to IDP communities.
• Surveys of organizations that are involved in housing for IDPs, including a review of the types of materials that can be used for shelter and water provision/treatment.
• Fundraising planning to broaden the donor base and build partnerships with other organizations.
• Outreach mechanisms for sharing findings, technological tools and best practices.
• Plans for a more hygienic emergency latrine and shower units as well as solutions to wastewater and sewage at the local level.
• Research on sustainable energy solutions and low-cost, effective water purification systems that can be used in IDP camps.

Anticipated Outputs

Surveys of best practices in refugee camp design; project designs for low-cost water purification systems and shelters; business plan to help support NGO fundraising; website; blog posts on infrastructure, health and basic services in Gaza; digital oral history of Clean Shelter’s work

Student Opportunities

Ideally, this team will include 4-5 graduate students and 4-5 undergraduate students interested in environmental studies, engineering, medicine, human rights, business and management studies, and Middle Eastern studies. All applicants should be interested in problem-solving and creative thinking and must aspire to work according to humanitarian principles.

In the beginning of the fall semester, team members will meet weekly to discuss background material on water and health in Gaza. Then, students will divide into subteams to work on projects driven by Clean Shelter’s needs and their individual research interests. All subteams will be supported by the team’s project manager and will receive regular feedback from Clean Shelter.

All team members will learn about international humanitarian law and the protection of critical infrastructure during war, including IDP camps and water and sanitation service provision. They will practice skills in data collection and analysis and gain a deep understanding of humanitarian principles, including the “Sphere Standards” and the principle of “do no harm.” Students will also expand their ability to work with a client organization that operates in the humanitarian sector.

Timing

Fall 2024 – Summer 2025

• Fall 2024: Learn about the work of Clean Shelter; read background literature on the environmental and health situation in Gaza; identify subteams and student-driven research projects with guidance from Clean Shelter; consult with IRB, if necessary; collect and analyze data
• Spring 2025: Continue subteam projects; workshop and refine deliverables with Clean Shelter
• Summer 2025 (optional): Continue ongoing subteam projects

Crediting

Academic credit available for fall and spring semesters; summer funding available

Image: Construction of temporary toilet units in Gaza, courtesy of Clean Shelter