Gaza faces multi-layered crises as continued airstrikes coincide with a crippling electricity blackout. Health care professionals expressed concern over the adverse effects on the region’s medical infrastructure.
Following a coordinated attack on southern Israel by armed groups from Gaza, Israel’s decision to halt electricity supplies has left the Gaza Strip in a prolonged darkness since early Saturday. Israel Katz, the country’s energy minister, confirmed the order to the state-run electricity company, effectively ceasing all power provisions to Gaza.
Hospitals, a critical lifeline in these tumultuous times, are heavily reliant on backup generators. With increasing numbers of Palestinians thronging medical facilities seeking updates on relatives and loved ones, medical personnel are sounding alarms over the deteriorating situation. Ashraf al-Qedra, a representative for Gaza’s health ministry, highlighted the dependence on old generators, which are not only inefficient but also pose the threat of suddenly becoming non-operational due to heightened fuel consumption.
Prior to this escalation, Gaza’s electrical needs were significantly unmet. With a demand of roughly 500MW for its two million residents, only about 180MW was accessible, even before the recent blackout. Gaza’s sole power plant operated at half its potential, producing just 60MW, and purchased electricity from Israel added another 120MW. The Oslo Accords from 1993 obligate Israel to supply Gaza with 120MW of electricity.
The current power deficit severely affects those in dire need of medical attention. Those most impacted include newborns, individuals needing dialysis, patients with respiratory issues, and those awaiting surgeries. Medical professionals like Hassan Abusultan, a nurse at the European Hospital in Khan Younis, emphasized the detrimental effects of such interruptions, particularly for patients relying on machines that need consistent electricity.
Even before this recent turmoil, Gazans experienced regular electricity shortages, with six to eight hours of electricity followed by an eight-hour blackout. The extended power cuts not only impact daily activities but also disrupt the water supply. With no electricity to power water pumps, residents like Nermin Bassel expressed fears about the already strained healthcare system’s ability to cope with the current challenges.
Amid this, reports indicate a dire shortage of medical supplies. A staggering 44% of essential medication and 32% of medical disposables are out of stock in Gaza hospitals. Furthermore, Israeli airstrikes targeted the Indonesian Hospital, inflicting significant damage, claiming the life of at least one medical staff member, and rendering the only remaining functioning hospital in Gaza non-operational due to the repeated bombardments in its vicinity.
