A lack of water effects every sphere of life including food, health and income, which is why typically countries facing drought are also experiencing mass food shortages or famine, and extreme poverty, such as Yemen and Pakistan. In Gaza, less than 4% of all water is drinkable. That means almost 97% of all water in Gaza is not safe for drinking, and this causes people to spend up to 1/3 of their, already scarce, income on clean water. A lack of water leaves people thirsty, and land parched. Food chains are deeply affected as crops cannot grow and livestock also is unable to survive. As a result, people in those regions end up going hungry. Without enough food, combined with dirty water, huge proportions of the population become malnourished. When this happens to women, this affects future generations as pregnant women who are malnourished are typically unable to carry to full term. They deliver premature babies who are also malnourished. This becomes a vicious cycle.
