On the 30th January 2009, Muslim Aid, in partnership with GlobalMedic and the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR), deployed four members of its Rapid Response Team (RRT) to deliver 50 water purification systems, 10.2 million Aquatab water purification tablets and 239,200 oral rehydration sachets to the people of Gaza.The three week conflict left over 400,000 people without access to clean drinking water, 20,000 of which were displaced families.
Once the emergency supplies arrived in Gaza, Muslim Aid and GlobalMedic staff were present to distribute the trekkers to isolated areas where displaced families lacked access to clean drinking water. Muslim Aid and Global Medic field staff trained a water technician from the Ministry of Health in how to operate and maintain the systems. The technician was then taken to two relief camps near Jabaliya where he conducted training sessions for local partners. One trekker was given to a school run by the organisation which will provide water to 120 children on a daily basis and to 3 other surrounding schools. Muslim Aid and GlobalMedic field staff also installed a trekker water purification unit in a school near to the Palestine Trauma Centre. The trekkers can produce 4 litres of clean water a minute and can run off 12 volt car batteries. In total, they can provide 50,000 people per day with clean drinking water per day.
Aquatab Water Purification Tablets were also distributed, providing 10.2 million litres of clean drinking water. The tablets were distributed to provide an extra supply of purified drinking water. They were also used to post-chlorinate the personal containers of those affected, ensuring there was no recontamination of the water.
Oral rehydration salts (ORS) were distributed throughout the Gaza Strip to prevent death due to diarrhea which is the second leading cause of death in children under five. The salt and sugar solution is given orally to prevent dehydration due to diarrhoea The sachets will be distributed to local hospitals throughout the Gaza Strip, as well as medical clinics and makeshift clinics within relief camps. The 239,200 sachets of ORS will provide over 20,000 patient treatments in total. These treatments will provide relief from dehydration associated with diarrhoea.