Humanitarian Impacts of the War in Gaza on Basic Services (2025-2026)

Background

Since the outbreak of war in Gaza, organizations have worked tirelessly to document the immediate and long-term impact of the conflict on environmental and human health. After more than a year of war, Gaza is experiencing a profound humanitarian crisis, including unprecedented destruction of basic services necessary for human life, such as water and energy 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 or destroyed, leaving the population of Gaza without access to clean water or treated sewage and increasingly exposed to waterborne illnesses. The debris left behind by the destruction also poses challenges for future rebuilding, as it contains high levels of asbestos, lead and other hazardous substances along with unexploded ordnances.

Project Description

Building on the work of a previous team, this project will focus on the humanitarian impacts of the war in Gaza pertaining to the provision of shelter and access to basic services (e.g., water, sanitation, energy and medical). The team will continue to partner with Clean Shelter, an NGO based in Germany that is working to provide emergency relief services to internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Gaza, such as sanitation, clean drinking water and shelter, in an inclusive and sustainable manner.

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.
• 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 and communication planning to broaden the donor base and build partnerships with other organizations.
• Outreach mechanisms for sharing findings, technological tools and best practices.
• Plans for more hygienic emergency latrine and shower units as well as solutions for wastewater and sewage at the local level.
• Research on different shelter options for both short-term and long-term needs.
• Research on sustainable energy solutions and low-cost, effective water purification systems that can be used in IDP camps.

Anticipated Outputs

Designs for low-cost water purification systems, energy systems and shelters; business plan to support fundraising for Clean Shelter

Student Opportunities

Ideally, this team will include 6-8 graduate students and 6-8 undergraduate students from a range of backgrounds, such as 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.

Team members will meet weekly, connecting with Clean Shelter in Germany and staff in Gaza via Zoom approximately every other week. Students will work in subteams focused 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.

Students will benefit from frequent communication with the staff and co-founders of Clean Shelter as well as lectures from other experts in IDP camps and basic service provision in conflict settings. They will also develop research skills, including data collection and analysis; learn about the challenges of maintaining critical infrastructure during conflict; gain a deep understanding of humanitarian principles, including the “Sphere Standards” and the principle of “do no harm;” improve their oral communication/presentation skills; and learn about how to build and run an NGO.

Depending on travel restrictions, some students may have the opportunity to travel to Israel/Palestine to meet with experts on humanitarian assistance. There may also be opportunities to attend conferences and workshops related to humanitarian action in Gaza and more broadly.

Timing

Summer 2025 – Summer 2026

• Summer 2025 (optional): Students from the 2024-2025 team continue ongoing project work
• Fall 2025: Complete background reading; work on projects meeting Clean Shelter’s evolving needs
• Spring 2026: Finalize deliverables for Clean Shelter (e.g., business plans; data analysis; designs for water or energy systems or shelter products)
• Summer 2026 (optional): Continue ongoing project work

Crediting

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

See earlier related team, Humanitarian Impacts of the War in Gaza: Shelter, Water and Sanitary Solutions (2024-2025).

 

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