GAZA, (PIC)
The Al-Awda Health and Community Association in the Gaza Strip sounded the alarm on Saturday about an anticipated complete cutoff in its health and social services in the coming days due to the lack of medical supplies, ongoing since March, because of the Israeli blockade.
The Association announced that seven out of nine ambulances have stopped working due to fuel shortages, and that working hours at primary health care and community protection centers have been reduced in order to conserve diesel fuel.
The Association’s director, Rafat al-Majdalawi, said, “health and community services in hospitals in northern and central Gaza and primary health care and community protection centers throughout Gaza are all threatened with complete shutdown in the coming days due to the lack of medical supplies for more than 70 days.”
He stressed that the shortage of medical supplies will affect services that are already at a minimum level, adding, “We have begun austerity measures to manage available fuel stocks, in addition to reducing working hours in primary health care centers and community protection centers in order to reduce diesel consumption.”
Al-Majdalawi appealed to all relevant parties to provide medical supplies and fuel necessary to continue providing services in its health and community facilities and centers.
He also stressed the need to adhere to humanitarian standards in times of conflict and war, and to spare health facilities in their capacity as civilian objects from any form of targeting or deprivation.
Since March 2, the Israeli occupation authorities have closed the Gaza Strip crossings to humanitarian aid, leaving some 2.4 million Palestinians in a state of famine.
