2023-10-25 21:31:00
In the premature babies department of Al Shifa, the largest public hospital in the Gaza Strip, Dr. Nasser Bulbul warns of the “enormous catastrophe” they will face if they lose power.
“In these departments where there are 55 babiesif the power goes out, in five minutes we will lose everyone”.
Gaza hospitals are experiencing dramatic hours. The United Nations (UN) warns that the fuel available in the Strip could run out this Wednesday.
Without this, thousands of vulnerable patients are exposed to the risk of death or medical complications, “including 130 premature babies who need extensive care,” the World Health Organization (WHO) reported this Tuesday.
Many Gazan hospitals are suspending their services, except for emergency services, using up the last of their fuel supplies.
Since Hamas attacked Israel on October 7, Israel has cut off electricity supplies to Gaza and launched a massive response against Hamas targets.
The Strip, including its hospitals, has since relied on fuel-powered emergency generators.
Ashraf al Qudra, spokesman for the Gaza Ministry of Health, said in statements reported by the Reuters agency that the fuel is being used “in the most essential lifesaving servicesincluding the incubators, but we don’t know how long it will last.
“We appeal to everyone to help us with fuel. We have even asked public and private gas stations to donate what they can save to save lives in hospitals,” Al Qudra added.
Reuters In Al Shifa, Gaza’s largest public hospital, bed occupancy is approaching 150% of its capacity.
Dozens of humanitarian aid trucks have been entering Gaza since last weekend through the cross of Rafah with Egypt, although agencies say that at least 100 of these trucks are required daily to meet the needs of the population.
The vehicles carry food, medicine, water and coffins, but no fuel.
The Israeli army maintains that it can be used by Hamas and accuses the group of accumulating hundreds of thousands of liters.
The Hamas-controlled Gaza Health Ministry estimates that At least 5,800 people have died since October 7.
In Israel, more than 1,400 were killed in the radical militant group’s initial attacks and more than 200 people kidnapped during Hamas’ ground incursion remain captive in Gaza.
Overcrowding and suspension of services
In the Al Shifa hospital, according to the WHO, hospital occupancy is close to 150% of its capacity.
Rushdi Abu AloufBBC correspondent in Gaza, reports that the situation is equally worrying at the Khan Younis hospital, the main medical center in the south of the territory.
“The hospital says vital operations will be suspended very soon because they are having trouble finding fuel sources. Lifesaving and blood supplies are also running low. We are on the verge of a catastrophic situation”, informs Abualouf.
KHALED ELFIQI/EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock Dozens of trucks with aid have been entering Gaza since last weekend, but humanitarian agencies say the flow of supplies is far from enough.
The UN is the main distributor of humanitarian aid in Gaza, but is having difficulty distributing fuel and essential medical supplies to the main hospitals in the north due to a lack of security guarantees.
The international organization has called for “an immediate humanitarian ceasefire” to be able to carry out its functions.
In addition to the several medical centers that have had to close due to the damage suffered during the attacks, Six hospitals in the Strip have already stopped working due to lack of fuel.
Los 130 premature babies at risk They are part of a longer list of 1,000 patients on dialysis, 2,000 cancer patients and others who are admitted to intensive care or require surgery and They depend on an uninterrupted flow of electricity to stay alivesays the WHO.
On Monday, with support from the UN Palestine Refugee Agency (UNRWA), the WHO delivered 34,000 liters of fuel to hospitals in southern Gaza and to the Palestinian Red Crescent to sustain ambulance services.
“However, this is only sufficient to maintain ambulances and critical hospital functions for less than 24 hours,” the WHO said.
If new supplies are not received, The UN says many of these services will stop working tonight in Gaza.
In the Strip they live around 2.3 million people who are running out of resources.
Before this last climb, 500 trucks a day with food entered Gaza. Half of the Gazan population is completely dependent on this humanitarian aid.
Dispute between Israel and the UN
The UN warnings come amid increased tension between this organization and the Israeli state.
During a meeting of the UN Security Council this Tuesday in New York, the secretary general, Antonio Guterres, He said that the Hamas attacks, where 1,400 people died in Israel, did not happen “out of nowhere” and mentioned Israel’s “56 years of occupation” of the Palestinians.
EDUARDO MUNOZ/EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock Guterres’ statements provoked a harsh reaction from Eli Cohen, Israeli Foreign Minister, and Gilad Erdan, Israel’s ambassador to the UN.
Speaking at the session, Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen criticized Guterres.
Secretary General, in what world do you live? “Definitely, that is not our world,” he stated.
Gilad Erdan, Israel’s ambassador to the UN, even called for Guterres to resign, saying he was not “prepared to lead the UN.”
BBC
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