Healthcare catastrophe: Gaza's health system declared 'totally collapsed’

The Gaza Health Ministry has officially declared the healthcare system in the blockaded strip to have "totally collapsed."

Ekleme: 24.10.2023 15:31:19 / Güncelleme: 24.10.2023 15:31:19 / English News
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The announcement follows an earlier warning that electric generators in hospitals would cease to function within 48 hours due to a critical fuel shortage.

Ashraf al-Qudra, the spokesman for the Health Ministry, issued a brief statement via Telegram, stating, "We have less than 48 hours before all electric generators in hospitals run out of fuel."

He also expressed deep concern about the slow and ineffective mechanisms in place for humanitarian aid entry into Gaza, stressing that the healthcare system has reached its most critical point in history.

On the preceding day, the ministry had reported that 32 health centers were rendered inoperative, with Israeli warplanes targeting some and a severe fuel shortage affecting others.

The ministry urgently called for the prioritization of hospital needs in aid distribution and appealed to the United Nations and the International Committee of the Red Cross to facilitate the delivery of fuel and blood units to support the besieged Gaza Strip's healthcare sector.

Adding to the crisis, the Indonesian Hospital in Gaza faced a shutdown as its essential facilities were disrupted due to a power outage.

Distressing videos circulated online, depicting medical teams at the hospital receiving patients brought in by ambulance workers, all while using portable flashlights to navigate the facility's darkened interiors.

This situation underscores the severe challenges faced by healthcare providers as they struggle to care for patients in the midst of Gaza's healthcare system collapse. (ILKHA)