At first sight, Jiftlik is not very different from any other rural village in the Occupied Palestinian Territory.

Small houses made of concrete blocks hug the main road for a few kilometers. It bakes under the scorching sun that presses down on the Jordan Valley, one of the lowest places on earth. During summer, temperatures easily reach 40-50 degrees Celsius and winter can be harsh and cold. Agricultural fields surrounding the community bring a splash of colour to a sea of beige and grey. Tomatoes, aubergines, courgettes, grapes, peppers and dates are the main crops cultivated here.

In pictures: Improving water and sanitation in Jiftlik

When examined more closely, Jiftlik stands out because it reflects, in a microcosm, all the problems rural communities have to deal with in the West Bank: Lack of water, electricity and basic services; tight restrictions imposed by the Israeli Civil Administration; harassment from settlers; and the inability to build any permanent infrastructure.

Oxfam is working to address the endemic water shortages in Jiftlik. With the financial help of the European Union Humanitarian Aid Department (ECHO), Oxfam plans to build a water reservoir of 300 cubic meters connected to a four inch-pipe to increase the quantity of water and the pressure reaching the 800 households in the village.

A fairly easy project to achieve one would think. But due to severe restrictions in Area C (which is under full Israeli control) new infrastructures cannot be built without a permit.

The whole process is extremely slow and the outcome uncertain. Working without the required permit risks the eventual destruction of water installations. Each year, between 10-15 houses are demolished by Israeli authorities in Jiftlik. So far, Oxfam's efforts to secure a building permit for the reservoir have been unsuccessful, confronting a lengthy series of adminstrative steps in a cumbersome application process.

Currently, the main source of water in this village is from the Israeli water supplier, Mekorot, which pumps water through two feeding points of a two-inch-wide pipeline. However, 60% of the 6,000 residents lack adequate water supply, especially those living on higher ground, as there is insufficient water pressure. Water coming from agricultural wells is too saline to be used for irrigation.

As a result, water is tanked in from 20km away costing extra time, money and effort, and leading to frequent problems at checkpoints during transportation. Costs can vary seasonally. Since Jiftlik relies mainly on agriculture more water has to be bought to irrigate the crops. Some families reported spending 800-1000 shekels (USD $223-280) a month for their domestic and agricultural water supplies. Each household spends on average between 200 - 300 shekels (USD $56-84) per month for drinking water. High unemployment in the Jordan Valley (around 20%) in conjunction with low incomes, are leading to family debt-accumulation just to pay for water.

Water needs are strictly prioritised: first for drinking, then for washing clothes, and finally, personal hygiene.

"The water quality coming from the tankers is at times poor", says Alima, the head of the Jiftlik Women's Association. "It varies, but sometimes the smell and the colour are not right at all. In some cases it is enough to see what the truck looks like to understand why the water tastes so bad."

In contrast, the much smaller Israeli settlement close to Jiftlik benefits from full infrastructure, such as pipes, reservoirs and agricultural irrigation systems. Moreover, Mekorot sells water at a cheaper price to settlement residents. As a result, the current consumption of water per capita in Israeli settlements is at least three to four times higher than in Palestinians communities.

According to Oxfam's water assessment in Jiftlik, residents consume 33-41 litres per day. In comparison, North Americans consume 350 litres each per day, and Europeans consumes 200 litres. 

The head of the Village Council tells us that his village is profoundly affected by the lack of electricity and water: "Some families have left because of the lack of all services and the stress it creates for the family. They move to nearby villages where there is basic infrastructure and the life is easier."

"You cross on one side of the road [settlements] and it looks like America, then you cross to the other side [Jiftlik] and it looks like Sudan!"

There are many stories to be told about how the lack of water affects people's life. But no matter how hard you try to turn the story around and find a new angle, the main character of the story is always missing; water.