ICRC survey shows ongoing electricity crisis in Gaza

This issue becomes extra problematic during the peak of summer and poses a threat to the health and daily life for Gazans, with the majority of the population being unable to refrigerate food and wastewater treatment plants unable to operate.

According to the study, the chronic, prolonged electricity shortages and power cuts are taking a psychological toll on people, with 94% of Gazans surveyed reporting that their mental health is affected by the situation. Furthermore, the recent intense escalation of hostilities in May damaged infrastructure and caused massive shortages of supply through the major power lines, leaving people with only 4-5 hours of electricity per day.

While some can afford additional electricity supply through generators at least 500,000 people cannot afford additional power, so they are forced to spend most of their day without electricity.

"We have a small battery to feed the LED lights and we recharge it only when we have electricity. It survives for an hour or two only, then we stay in pitch black. These LEDs go out most of the time," says Ahmed Darwish, a 64-year-old father from Bureij refugee camp.

Key findings of ICRC survey are as below:

· 94% of those surveyed said the prolonged situation had affected their mental health.

· 82% of respondents told the ICRC that they were unable to refrigerate food because of the situation.

· 27% of those surveyed told the ICRC they could not access any alternative form of power when the municipal power went off. Of these, 91% simply could not afford to pay for more power.

· 57% said that they could access alternative forms of power, but it was not enough to meet their needs in life or work.