Water Crisis Forces School Closures in Shaqib al-Salam Amid Heatwave

Shaqib al-Salam local authorities have suspended classes in all educational institutions due to an ongoing water outage affecting approximately 20,000 residents for two days. The disruption stems from a malfunction in seawater desalination facilities, occurring amidst temperatures nearing 40 degrees Celsius.

Saelem Al-Omrani, deputy head of the local council, stated that the crisis extends beyond public facilities to homes, businesses, restaurants, and factories. Bottled water supplies within the town have been depleted. The water shortage has also impacted other areas in the Negev, including Tel Sheva and parts of Beersheba.

Al-Omrani explained that residents are relying solely on drinking water, with no alternative sources available. The situation has paralyzed various activities in the town, and the local authority has not yet received a clear timeline for repairs. Officials indicated that resolving the issue could take "a day or several days" without a precise end date.

The water cutoff occurred unexpectedly, leaving residents unprepared. The scarcity of bottled water led families to quickly exhaust store inventories, forcing many to travel to neighboring towns for supplies.

The decision to suspend classes, affecting around 7,500 students, was made to ensure their safety, particularly in the high temperatures. Al-Omrani emphasized that operating schools without water poses health risks, especially for younger children, and impacts basic hygiene like restroom facilities.

The local council held an emergency meeting and plans to petition the Home Front Command for urgent water tankers and aid. Al-Omrani stressed the critical need for water, noting the lack of sufficient official response to resolve the crisis.