GAZA: Falling fuel supplies for Gaza’s hospital generators has put 130 premature babies at grave risk, Western media reported on Monday.
The fuel shortage is because of the Israeli blockade of Gaza, which started after a war between Hamas and Israel on October 7.
Aid workers say that doctors treating premature babies across Gaza are facing difficult situation across six neonatal units. Such babies need to be put in glass incubators which run on electricity.
50,000 pregnant women in Gaza unable to access basic health services
According to the World Health Organization at least 50,000 pregnant women in Gaza are unable to access basic health services. It said that about 5,500 women are due to give birth in the coming month in Gaza.
At least seven of the 30 hospitals in Gaza have been forced to shut down because of the Israeli attacks and lack of electricity, water and other supplies. While the doctors in the remaining hospitals are facing shortage of basic supplies. The UN agency for Palestinian refugees on Sunday said it has enough fuel to last three days to serve critical needs.
Melanie Ward, chief executive of the Medical Aid for Palestinians aid group said that the world cannot simply look on as these babies are killed by the blockade on Gaza.
It is to be noted that none of the 20 aid trucks that crossed into Gaza on Saturday, has fuel. Limited fuel supplies inside Gaza were being given to hospital generators.
Meanwhile seven tankers took fuel from a UN depot on the Gaza side of the border, but it was not clear if any of them was destined for the hospitals.
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Guillemette Thomas, medical coordinator for Doctors Without Borders in the Palestinian territories, said some of the babies could die within hours if they don’t receive the special care and medication.
He said the hospitals in Gaza are functioning at their double capacities which puts a strain on the limited electricity.
Al-Awda Hospital director Ahmed Muhanna said that up to 50 babies are born almost every day. He added that the hospital has already received an evacuation order from the Israeli military, but continues to work.
