Patients in Gaza relying on electrical life-sustaining devices are at risk as hospitals begin to run out of fuel to power emergency generators, the World Health Organization (WHO) said on Monday
MOSCOW (Pakistan Point News / Sputnik - 21st January, 2019) Patients in Gaza relying on electrical life-sustaining devices are at risk as hospitals begin to run out of fuel to power emergency generators, the World Health Organization (WHO) said on Monday."Current fuel reserves are expected to sustain critical hospital services for only a few more days, depending on the number of hours of electricity cuts," the health authority said in a statement.
The enclave has been suffering fuel shortages due to cold weather and power outages. It relies on fuel deliveries from the Palestinian Authority and its allies, which are frequently suspended by Israel.
The WHO said 14 public hospitals were at risk of closure as fuel reserves coordinated by the United Nations were declining rapidly. Most severely-hit clinics have been suspending non-vital services during blackouts.
But lives of hundreds of patients in intensive care now hang in balance. These include newborns who need incubators to survive and patients whose life depends on dialysis, ventilators and other appliances.
