The scene of patients inside Al-Wafa Hospital for Medical Rehabilitation and Specialized Surgery in Gaza City highlights the fragility of the health sector in the face of the fuel crisis, where generators have become an indispensable lifeline for the continuation of treatment and rehabilitation.
Concerns intensify with every decrease in supplies, as power outages mean the shutdown of medical equipment upon which chronically ill patients and wounded individuals rely for extended treatment journeys, according to an Al Jazeera report. Elderly patient Majdi doesn’t hide his anxiety about the impact on his care if the generators stop working. He requires regular monitoring and examinations that depend on electrical equipment, and he explains that the continued operation of the generators is essential for the continuity of his treatment, and that their interruption would put his life in immediate danger.
The report also portrays the suffering of wounded individuals requiring long-term medical rehabilitation, including Ayman, who suffered amputations of both legs and receives physical and occupational therapy at the hospital. Ayman fears that the cessation of services will interrupt his irreplaceable treatment journey, as rehabilitation programs require electrical equipment and daily monitoring. Ahed Alloun, the public relations officer at Al-Wafa Hospital, points out that the medical rehabilitation center and operating rooms have completely ceased functioning due to fuel shortages, and that the hospital has issued an urgent appeal for fuel to operate the generators.
Alloun adds that another escalating crisis is the difficulty staff face in reaching the hospital, further complicating the provision of medical services.
The report clarifies that the fuel supply problem is not limited to Al-Wafa Hospital, as 13 private medical facilities and 7 health centers are at risk of shutting down after being notified of the cessation of fuel supplies provided by international organizations.
