Fears grow people are dehydrating to death in Gaza as clean water runs out

UN agency warns residents exposed to cholera and dysentery as city's last seawater desalination plant closes

Fears are growing that people in Gaza are beginning to dehydrate to death as clean water runs out, with Israeli airstrikes continuing to pound the Palestinian territory of 2.3 million residents amid a total blockade on food, electricity, medicine and fuel.

Unrwa, the UN's agency for Palestinian refugees, said on Tuesday that Gaza's last seawater desalination plant had shut down, bringing the risk of further deaths and waterborne diseases such as cholera and dysentery. Six water wells, three water pumping stations, and one water reservoir - which collectively served more than 1.1million people - are also out of action, it said.