Nasser hospital, Al-Aqsa hospital and European Gaza hospital, in the Gaza Strip, Palestine, are on the verge of closure due to a lack of fuel. This situation is threatening the lives of hundreds of patients, including newborns, who depend on electricity to stay alive, warns Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF). Meanwhile, MSF teams are transferring fuel to Nasser and Al-Aqsa hospitals, serving only as a temporary solution for the next 36 to 48 hours.
As of 8 January, electricity for the MSF-supported Nasser hospital might be cut-off in some departments leaving people without lifesaving care. In the neonatal intensive care unit, we are currently treating three children and four newborns with mechanical ventilation, as well as 15 newborns in incubators, all dependent on electricity provided by fuel generators.
MSF is alarmed by this catastrophic situation, which could have tragic and serious consequences as the situation is unlikely to improve. We call on all parties to facilitate the entry of fuel into Gaza and to ensure its safe delivery to medical facilities. The dismantling of the health system by the Israeli blockade, which is endangering the lives of people, must stop immediately.