WHO says Gaza fuel shortage may have ‘catastrophic’ consequences on health system
GENEVA, Switzerland — The World Health Organization chief warns that a dire lack of fuel in the Gaza Strip could have a “catastrophic” impact on already devastated health services in the war-ravaged Palestinian territory.
“Further disruption to health services is imminent in Gaza due to a severe lack of fuel,” WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus says on X, formerly Twitter.
The UN health agency cautions that only 90,000 liters of fuel entered Gaza on Wednesday — even as the health sector alone needs 80,000 liters daily.
The military did not immediately comment on the claim. Fuel, which has been particularly difficult to get in amid Israeli fears it could benefit the Hamas terror group, is vital to keep hospital generators running, as well as humanitarian and emergency vehicles.
This is forcing WHO and its partners working in Gaza “to make impossible choices,” Tedros says.
WHO says that its partners were currently directing limited fuel supplies to “key hospitals,” including the Nasser Medical Complex and Al Amal Hospital in Khan Yunis and the Kuwaiti Hospital in Rafah.
Fuel was also going to 21 ambulances run by the Palestinian Red Crescent “to prevent services from grinding to a halt,” Tedros says.
He points out that the European Gaza Hospital in Khan Yunis had been out of service since Tuesday, and warned that “losing more hospitals in the Strip would be catastrophic.”
Further disruption to health services is imminent in #Gaza due to a severe lack of fuel.
Only 90,000L of fuel entered Gaza yesterday. The health sector alone needs 80,000L daily, forcing the @UN – incl. @WHO – and partners to make impossible choices. pic.twitter.com/XIlvDJj2Xg
— Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus (@DrTedros) July 4, 2024
Times of Israel staff contributed to this report.
