The World Health Organization (WHO) has issued a dire warning regarding the catastrophic impact of fuel shortages on Gaza’s health system, which has been severely strained by ongoing conflict for nearly nine months.
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus highlighted the urgent need for fuel to sustain critical healthcare services in the besieged territory.
Only 90,000 liters of fuel entered Gaza on Wednesday, while the health sector alone requires 80,000 liters daily.
Tedros emphasized that the fuel shortage forces the United Nations and its partners, including WHO, to make difficult decisions to keep essential services running.
He stressed the need for immediate fuel supplies to avoid a complete halt in healthcare provision.
The situation has already seen the European Hospital in Gaza cease operations since July 2. Tedros warned that any further hospital closures would have catastrophic consequences.
Israel controls all goods entering the besieged Gaza Strip, which has been suffering from acute fuel shortages essential for running hospital generators, humanitarian vehicles, bakeries, and water desalination units.
The Israeli authorities argue that adequate fuel supplies are restricted to prevent potential use by Palestinian militants.
Currently, limited fuel is allocated to major hospitals such as Nasser Medical Center, Al-Amal Hospital, and the Kuwaiti Field Hospital, as well as 21 ambulances operated by the Palestinian Red Crescent Society.
Gaza, with its densely populated urban areas and high poverty rates, has been under blockade since 2007, leading to severe restrictions on the movement of people and goods.
The ongoing conflict has further exacerbated the humanitarian crisis, with frequent power outages and shortages of essential supplies.
The healthcare system, in particular, faces immense challenges in providing adequate care to the population amidst these constraints.
This latest warning from the WHO underscores the urgent need for international intervention to address the critical fuel shortages and ensure the continuity of vital health services in Gaza.
