In light of wars and armed conflicts, the simplest elements of life turn into great challenges, the most important of which is to obtain clean drinking water. With the destruction of the infrastructure, the interruption of electricity, and the pollution of water sources due to the bombing or the leakage of chemicals, the water becomes a source of danger rather than a source of life. The crisis is exacerbated in famines, as malnutrition leads to weak immunity, which makes individuals more vulnerable to diseases transmitted across contaminated water.
The importance of water purification in the emergency
The World Health Organization indicates that more than two billion people around the world depend on unsafe water sources, and this percentage increases in armed conflict areas, where water and sanitation networks are destroyed, which leads to the spread of serious diseases such as cholera, typhoid and acute diarrhea, which pose a major threat to children and the elderly.
The organization recommends providing a minimum water of 7.5 liters per day per person in emergency situations, while seeking to raise it to between 15 and 20 liters to cover the basic needs.
Crises in Syria and Yemen are clear examples of health disasters resulting from water pollution, as the war years contributed to the outbreaks of epidemics, while in the Gaza Strip, the continuous blockade and repeated military raids led to a severe deterioration in the possibility of access to clean water, as the water crisis has become one of the most dangerous daily challenges of the population. And human rights and humanitarian reports indicate that water is used as a means of pressure in the context of the conflict, which increases the suffering of civilians.
According to Paula Navarro, the coordinator of water and sanitation projects at the Doctors Without Borders Organization in Gaza: “For those who live under the weight of the continuous shelling, their ordeal is exacerbated by water shortage, as many are forced to drink inappropriate water, while others do not get enough quantities to meet their basic needs.”
This leads the residents to rely on polluted and unable sources, which seriously exacerbates the humanitarian and healthy situation.
Water purification methods in emergency situations
In the absence of clean water sources, water purification before direct use becomes the first line of defense, and when it is not possible to get commercial filters, the need for alternative solutions using simple local materials. The following are the most prominent effective ways to purify water in harsh conditions:
Nomination using local materials
A primitive filter for water can be made using local and inexpensive local materials, such as clean fabric, soft sand, crushed charcoal, and gravel. These materials are arranged in layers inside a upside down bottle or a cut plastic tube, so that each layer plays a specific role in the purification: the fabric to reserve the large molecules, sand to capture the fine particles, coal to absorb some toxins and odors, and gravel to improve the water flow and filtration process.
This type of filters is an effective first step to reduce disturbances and remove solids, but it is not sufficient alone to eliminate germs and fine parasites. Therefore, it should always be completed by the process of boiling water or using chemical sterilization materials to ensure their safety.
Boiling
Boiling is one of the simplest and most effective ways to sterilize water, killing bacteria, viruses and parasites with high efficiency. The control centers are recommended to boil water for a period of one minute to 3 minutes before using it in drinking or cooking, due to its great ability to eliminate most causes of biological diseases.
However, boiling does not remove chemical pollutants or heavy minerals such as lead and mercury, which may leak into water sources as a result of bombing or soil pollution. Also, this method requires a fuel source, which may limit its use in emergency situations that suffer from energy deficiency.
Chemical sterilization
Chlorine or iodine tablets, as well as liquid chlorine, are used as effective means to sterilize water in emergency situations, especially in the absence of fuel or boiling tools. The appropriate dose is added to the water and left for 30 minutes before use, and is characterized by its effectiveness against most germs, but it is less effective towards some parasites. Chlorine tablets are available in emergency relief groups, and is a practical and light -load option.
However, you may leave an unpleasant taste or smell, and do not remove chemical pollutants. It is also preferable to avoid the use of iodine by pregnant women or those with thyroid problems due to its potential health effects.
Sun cleansing
The solar sterilization method depends on its mobilization in transparent plastic bottles and placed under the direct sunlight for 6 hours, as the sun and ultraviolet radiation kills most bacteria and viruses, without the need for fuel or chemicals. This method is suitable for sunny areas limited resources, but it is less effective with malls or chemically contaminated, and its full dependence on weather conditions reduces its reliability in cloudy or dust -full environments. Despite its simplicity, it represents a temporary and effective option to sterilize water in emergencies and remote areas.
Solar distillation
Solar distillation is an effective way to purify water, especially in highly contaminated or salty environments. It depends on the evaporation of water using the sun’s heat, then thickening the steam and collecting it in a clean bowl, to remove salts, heavy metals and chemicals. Used by placing contaminated water in a bowl covered with a plastic membrane, to collect pure water drops with condensation.
This method treats biological and chemical pollution, but it produces relatively small amounts and needs simple equipment such as plastic covers and an intensification basin. Despite its slow, it is a safe and appropriate option in emergency situations and areas that lack safe water sources.
Field challenges in conflict areas
Despite the simplicity of these means and their success in saving lives, their application on the ground faces great challenges, especially in the areas of armed conflict or the comprehensive collapse of the infrastructure. These challenges include a lack of fuel necessary for boiling processes, the scarcity of basic materials such as coal or plastic bottles, in addition to the lack of sufficient awareness among the population about how to purify water in safe and effective ways. These obstacles negatively affect the ability of societies to use limited resources available to them.
Relief efforts and innovative solutions
To overcome these challenges, relief efforts should include distribution of ultraviolet or ceramic filters, and providing sterilization tablets as an instant solution in emergency situations. Awareness campaigns that explain the methods of water purification should be launched using the locally available materials, in addition to taking advantage of the experiments of previous humanitarian organizations that have succeeded in using simple technologies such as portable battery purification units, to provide millions of liters of clean water in very fragile environments.
Water purification is not an option, but rather a prerequisite for the dignity and lives of people in the most difficult circumstances.