The Ministry of Health in the Gaza Strip confirmed the start of the countdown to the suspension of its medical services within 72 hours, due to the shutdown of the power plant and the lack of fuel needed to operate the electricity backup generators
The Ministry announced during a press conference today, Saturday, the cessation of work in the outpatient clinics in all hospitals, and the cessation of scheduled surgeries to give the full opportunity to conduct emergency urgent operations for the victims of the ongoing aggression over the strip
The Ministry indicated that from the first moment of the start of the (Israeli) aggression, it announced raising the readiness and preparation in all hospitals, especially emergency departments, operations, intensive care, and ambulance stations
It explained that the (Israeli) occupation focused its aggression on targeting residential areas, which raised the number of victims among which children, women, and civilians, and critical injuries
The medical staff in the hospitals is working according to the limited capabilities due to the (Israeli) siege that has been going on for 15 years.”
It also pointed out that the pharmaceutical situation in the ministry is going through its worst situation in years, as the shortage of essential medicines has reached 40%, 32% of medical consumables, and 60% of laboratory and blood bank supplies.
“The continued closure of the Beit Hanoun checkpoint in front of the movement of patients referred for treatment abroad, and the failure to enter critical cases, exacerbates their difficult health situation, especially patients with cancerous tumors and those cardiovascular issues, who face an unknown fate,” the ministry added.
it continued by stating, “The (Israeli) occupation still prevents the entry of 24 diagnostic x-ray machines, in addition to preventing the access of spare parts needed to maintain other broken devices, which are important in providing emergency interventions to the wounded in emergency departments, operations, and intensive care.”
The ministry pointed out that the power outage poses a serious threat to the work of vital departments in hospitals, especially emergency departments, intensive care, operations, dialysis departments, laboratories, nurseries, oxygen systems, and medical gases.
It pointed out that the power outage will lead to the suspension of desalination plants, sewage pumps, and the supply of water to homes, which may cause severe health and humanitarian disaster.
However, “the Central Emergency Committee and the subcommittees in the regions are in continuous session to follow up on work developments in hospitals and health facilities to enhance medical care for the wounded according to the available and limited possibilities.”
The ministry called on all international, humanitarian, and relief institutions to stand up to their responsibilities to pressure the (Israeli) occupation to leave the sick cases through the Beit Hanoun checkpoint and to work immediately to supply the health system with its urgent health needs and fuel supplies.
For the second day in a row, the (Israeli) aggression against the Gaza Strip continues, targeting overcrowded residential areas and neighborhoods, where the number of martyrs so far has reached 15, including a 5-year-old girl and a 23-year-old woman, and another 62-year-old mother, whose sons wedding was scheduled today, while 114 civilians were wounded.
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