Palestine – Israel’s energy cutoff endangers Gaza medical care and wastewater treatment

Location: Al-Shifa Hospital – Gaza – Palestine

Language: Arabic

Duration: 00:03:41

Sound: natural

Source: A24 in Gaza

Restrictions: A24 subscribers

Date: 07/08/ 2022

Storyline:

Gaza hospitals canceled scheduled surgeries Saturday and halted work at outpatient clinics in all medical facilities to treat emergency arrivals due to the Israeli airstrikes.

Dr. Mohammed Abu Salmiya, director of Al-Shifa Hospital, told A24 News Agency that the amount of fuel available in hospitals will last for 3 days only. Abu Salmiya added that the situation in Gaza could lead to a potential humanitarian disaster if Israel’s “aggression” continues.

Even before the latest uptick of violence, Gaza was operating on only four hours of electricity per day, according to Palestinian economist Mohsen Abu Ramadan with critical infrastructure unable to meet the basic needs of the territory’s 2 million people.

Shotlist:

– Soundbite (Mohammed Abu Salmiya – Director of Al-Shifa Hospital):

“Israel’s aggression comes amid acute shortages of medical supplies, medicines, and radiology and diagnostic equipment in Gaza hospitals, in addition to shortages of fuel and electricity. It has been 6 days of closure of crossings, not a drop of fuel has entered Gaza. Currently hospitals are operating under state of emergency, as the amount of fuel available will only suffice for 3 days. If the aggression continues and results in a higher number of injuries, the lives of the injured will be jeopardized, as the healthcare sector is facing a real crisis.”

– Interview (Mohsen Abu Ramadan – Economic analyst):

“The only electric power company in Gaza operates on diesel fuel and with idle capacity, as it provides only 4 hours of electricity with 12 hours of power cuts. The limited supply of electricity will affect the healthcare sector, as well as wastewater treatment, plantations, workshops, factories and bakeries, which could lead to a humanitarian disaster in Gaza. The international community should intervene and save Gaza from this crisis, by securing necessary materials.”