In 2019, the MENA region was widely recognized as the most water-stressed region in the world. Due to its predominantly dry and hot climate, there has been a significant gap between water supply and demand for decades. Climate change, poor water management, armed conflicts, and wars, along with population and economic growth have further exacerbated water stress in many MENA countries.  

In recent years, people in Palestine have not only faced a decrease in annual precipitation and rising temperatures, particularly in the summer, but also the impact of a political context characterized by the Israeli occupation of the West Bank and Gaza, the siege of the Gaza strip since 2007, and the war on Gaza between October 2023 and January 2025. These factors have resulted in limited and unequal access to water resources, especially for those living in the Gaza strip. Since October 2023, the Israeli Defense Forces have not only enforced a complete siege on Gaza but also destroyed significant parts of its basic infrastructure, including water systems. As a result, wastewater treatment plants, sewage pumping stations, and desalination plants in the strip have been out of service for over a year. In November 2023, UNRWA, the U.N. agency providing relief to Palestinian refugees in the Gaza Strip, estimated, that approximately 70% of Gaza’s population was forced to drink contaminated or overly salty water.  

The ceasefire agreement reached between Israel and Hamas on 15 January 2025 offers hope for rebuilding not only homes but also essential infrastructure to restore access to basic services including water for domestic, agricultural and industrial use.   

More than just a water purification project; it is a lifeline for farmers and communities 

Salah El Sadi is one of the many people in Gaza determined to rebuild their enterprises after the war. In 2021, he founded Blue Filter, a company that provides an innovative water purification technology using natural, plant-based materials to deliver clean and safe drinking water.  

Blue Filter offers a range of products, including a compact, eco-friendly filtration system for households, farms, and refugee camps; a larger-scale filtration system designed to ensure safe irrigation water for farmers; and an emergency water purification kit for crisis zones. By leveraging a unique blend of plant seeds to naturally remove contaminants such as nitrates, heavy metals, and pathogens, Blue Filter ensures high water quality while minimizing environmental impact. The project also offers educational programs to empower local communities and creates job opportunities through local production and distribution, ensuring both environmental and social benefits in a financially sustainable way. The company’s mission is to promote social, economic, and environmental sustainability by tackling global water challenges, ultimately transforming lives and ecosystems.  

The idea for an affordable, eco-friendly, and scalable solution to water scarcity and contamination emerged from the urgent need that Salah and his colleagues witnessed in Gaza, especially underserved communities, including households in rural and low-income areas, schools, healthcare facilities, and refugee camps.  

Before the war, Blue Filter was a success story. Through partnerships with local organizations and governments, the company served a diverse customer range, including individuals, families, humanitarian organizations, government agencies, farmers, agricultural cooperatives, and retailers. Its reach extended from Gaza to the West Bank with pilot programs in Jordan and Iraq. Most recently, the company received numerous internationals awards and gained international recognition for its research on nitrate removal using chia seeds.  

As Saleh puts it:

Due to the war in Gaza, Blue Filter lost its entire infrastructure: “Then, in an instant, war erased everything. The infrastructure we built, the filtration units we installed, the hope we cultivated, it was all destroyed. We lost everything. But what we haven’t lost is our determination.” Saleh is convinced that “green entrepreneurs are not just innovators, but rather problem solvers in the face of crisis.” Therefore, “never giving up, no matter what” is the motto for his enterprise, an advice he also gives to other green entrepreneurs:

“You will face setbacks, failures, and even destruction, but if your cause is just, never stop fighting for it. Your mission must be stronger than your obstacles.”

Today, despite the overwhelming destruction, hardship and misery, Salah and his team are determined to rebuild:

“This time, not just for farmers, but for the thousands of displaced and suffering people in Gaza who lack access to safe drinking water.”

His objective is to raise 100,000 USD “to restart Blue Filter and provide emergency drinking water solutions for the people of Gaza.

“This is not just about business; it is about life and death.”

AMWAJ aims to raise $5000 for Blue Filter to rebuild some of the company’s basic infrastructure. Donate through this link: https://amwaj-alliance.com/istidama/amwaj-fundraising-campaign-for-blue-filter/

Learn more about Blue filter through their website, and follow them on facebook. 

Photo credits: Blue Filter and Spark.