MAP said Israel’s restrictions on fuel entering enclave are threatening the lives of children who are critically ill [GETTY]
A UK charity warned on Friday that Israel’s fuel restrictions are risking patients’ lives at Gaza’s Nasser Hospital.
Medical Aid for Palestinians (MAP) said the hospital in Khan Younis will “likely shut down within 48 hours”, and without fuel, critical hospital operations will be forced to stop, “endangering the lives of critically ill patients, including children and newborns in intensive care”.
Nasser Hospital requires 5,500 litres of fuel daily to operate at its “necessary capacity”. However, Israel’s restrictions only allow 15,000 litres every three days and prevent the main or reserve fuel tanks from being refilled.
The hospital has approximately 10,000 litres remaining, which the charity says is only enough to operate its generators for 48 hours even with “severe rationing”.
The hospital is currently rationing fuel, prioritising power for operating theatres and paediatric and neonatal intensive care units. MAP explains that 13 patients, including three children, rely on mechanical ventilation, and 17 depend on incubators for survival.
Other hospital facilities have been restricted to minimal lighting and rely on a smaller generator and solar systems during daylight hours.
Gaza’s Health Ministry said that 14 of the 36 hospitals in the enclave are partially functioning, with Israeli attacks decimating its healthcare system and putting thousands of lives at critical risk.
The ministery said on Wednesday that fuel shortages are causing a “real disaster” in the remaining hospitals.
The United Nations’ Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) has voiced deep concerns about the dwindling fuel supplies impacting essential services in Gaza.
The World Health Organization reported on Friday that Al Awda Hospital is also “critically low” on fuel and essential medical supplies.
Israel’s restrictions prevent life-saving aid from entering the territory, further depleting the healthcare system even more.
OCHA revealed Israel prevented almost half of planned humanitarian movements from being facilitated into northern Gaza.
