DaysofPal- Dr. Atef al-Hout, director of Nasser Medical Complex in Khan Younis, has warned of an imminent danger that could lead to a complete halt of healthcare services at the facility due to the depletion of fuel needed to operate its generators, the hospital’s only source of power.
A Constant Crisis of Basic Supplies
Al-Hout said the health crisis in Gaza has persisted since the start of the war, with hospitals operating under constant pressure from severe shortages of essential supplies, particularly fuel.
He explained that limited quantities of fuel have been allowed in, but oil needed to maintain the generators has been entirely blocked. The generators have been running continuously for more than two years, leading to significant wear and bringing them close to failure.
He described the situation as a direct threat to the lifeline of the hospital, noting that the administration has been forced to ration electricity use to prevent a total shutdown.
Al-Hout detailed the measures taken, stating that they reduce electricity loads to around 600 kilovolt-amperes during evening and nighttime hours. This forces staff to shut down air conditioning in intensive care and operating rooms, creating unsafe conditions for patients. Some critical services, including CT scans, have also been suspended at night.
A “Death Sentence” for Vulnerable Patients
The failure of the generators would lead to the total collapse of the health system within the complex. Life-support machines would cease functioning, placing intensive care patients at immediate risk of death.
Al-Hout emphasized that electricity is the sole source of power for operating rooms, laboratories, and imaging departments, and even oxygen supply systems rely on generator operation. A shutdown would amount to a death sentence for many patients, particularly children.
The Nasser Medical Complex operates four generators, three of which are still functioning but in deteriorating condition. The fourth is out of service due to lack of fuel. The remaining generators are at risk of failing at any moment because of shortages of spare parts and filters.
Al-Hout noted that the hospital requires about 900 liters of oil each month, a resource currently unavailable across Gaza. This has forced the facility to reduce generator operating hours as a last resort.
He said the situation reflects a broader pattern of systematic damage to the healthcare sector, pointing out that most hospitals in Gaza are no longer functioning. Nasser Medical Complex remains one of the last facilities in the south still providing nearly comprehensive services.
In a message to the international community, al-Hout said that people in Gaza deserve the chance to live and that medical staff are working beyond their capacity to save patients. He called for urgent action to ensure the entry of essential supplies and to maintain healthcare services.
He warned that if current conditions continue, a humanitarian catastrophe is imminent due to the lack of alternatives and the growing number of patients who rely entirely on these critical services.
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