THE unrelenting air raids, and Israel’s decision to cut off water, electricity, and fuel supply to Gaza are pushing its local medical system to the brink of collapse, creating a dire humanitarian crisis there.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), since the latest conflict, there have been 34 attacks on health facilities in Gaza, killing 11 medical personnel, injuring 16 others.
It also destroyed 9 medical facilities and 20 ambulances, which further strains the already overstretched medical system in Gaza.
“Hospitals in Gaza simply cannot handle such a huge number of patients. The hospitals are exhausting medical resources to treat the wounded of air strikes.”
At the same time, Israel said that unless Hamas releases the detained Israeli personnel, Israel will never resume water and power supply to Gaza or lift the siege on it.
The power plant in Gaza used up fuel reserves on Thursday.
So, Gaza’s medical institutions can only rely on their own generators to maintain the most critical medical services.
But the fuel reserves will also run out soon. Gaza’s medical resources, including medicine and equipment, are almost exhausted.
“Many hospitals are expected to be forced to stop using ventilators and various surgeries, which will deal a fatal blow to the injured in hospital.”
The WHO issued a statement on Thursday, warning that due to the blockade, it is unable to provide fuel, medical, and humanitarian supplies to the Gaza Strip and calling for an end to attacks on civilians and medical institutions, and the immediate establishment of humanitarian corridors.
Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammed Ishtaye on the same day called on the international community to immediately intervene, stop the Israeli military operation in the Gaza Strip, restore water and power supply to Gaza as soon as possible, and provide fuel, food, medicine and other medical and humanitarian aid to Gaza as soon as possible, so as to mitigate the imminent humanitarian disaster in the area.
