The health sector in the Gaza Strip suffers from the protracted crisis of electricity cuts, about 20 hours a day, which is having serious repercussions on vulnerable groups of patients and people with disabilities who require special care and uninterrupted access to electricity. Therefore, the Palestinian health organizations and hospitals rely on fuel to operate generators in order to provide essential medical services. However, they are facing challenges in providing fund for fuel to operate generators so that urgent fund support is highly needed for health sector.
On the other hand, last week, the Israeli Occupation prevented the entry of fuel to the Gaza strip through the only commercial crossing Karem Shalom, which puts the lives of patients at risk. All health-related NGOs and hospitals will be forced to shut down and stop their vital services in case they run out fuel, which is projected to run out in the beginning of August 2018.
The Union of Health Work Committees at its five health centers and Al-Awda Hospital rely on fuel to operate, while the current amount is only sufficient for the end of August. If the fuel is not provided, the five health centers will be partially closed or totally. The most serious threat is to close Al-Awda hospital, the only childbirth hospital in the Northern Governorate, and a threat to the life of newborns in intensive care, in addition to the cessation of urgent surgical operations.
Red Crescent Society for Gaza Strip also consumes 7,000 Liter of fuel per month to operate its center during the electricity cut, especially the Magnetic resonance imaging device (MRI) that needs electricity 24-hours otherwise it will be damaged. The current available fuel in the society is set to run out in 3 weeks, then their services will be frozen until receiving the required fund and fuel. As well as the Union of Health Care Committees who has been highly affected by fuel shortage which is set to run out at the end of August.
Furthermore, the impact of fuel shortage on NGOs provide services to people with disabilities (PwD); physical therapy and other services that rely on constant access to electricity, such as medical mattresses etc. Palestinian Medical Relief Society provides wide range of medical services to patients and PwD through its 8 medical centers in which rely on fuel to be operated and be able provide services for vulnerable groups; Cerebral palsy cases and physical therapy.
Al Wafa Hospital consumes 300 liters of fuel per day for the operation of the Elderly Center and the provision of rehabilitation services for 80 permanent elderly patients and those need to medical rehabilitation and physiotherapy. The amount of fuel is set to run out at the end of July, which threatens to stop rehabilitation services for all residents as well as patients on ventilator which requires 24 hours of uninterrupted electricity.
Likewise, The Central Blood Bank Association provides blood units to government and non-governmental hospitals, need electricity to operate lab equipment and blood refrigerators. Without fuel, they will be forced to cease providing services to patients in life threatening condition.
The fuel crisis has a serious impact on all NGOs and their vital services in such a way that threatens the lives of people suffering from poverty and unemployment who receive free essential services in the health NGOs.
We call upon the international community to exert maximum pressure on the Israeli occupation to immediately allow the entry of fuel and other essential supplies to avert further disruption to the health sector and call upon donors to mobilize resources to ensure that health institutions receive needed fuel.
We also call upon the international community to work to end the Israeli blockade of Gaza through International fora and put an end to the collective punishment of 2 Million people in the Gaza Strip.