22 dec 2014
220 tons of medical supplies enter Gaza via Rafah
The Egyptian Red Crescent supervised the entry of 220 tons of medical supplies into Gaza on Monday via the Rafah crossing, officials said.
The medical supplies were sent by Algeria and Qatar and arrived at Alexandria port and the city of el-Arish in northern Sinai, before being transferred to Gaza.
220 tons of medical supplies enter Gaza via Rafah
The Egyptian Red Crescent supervised the entry of 220 tons of medical supplies into Gaza on Monday via the Rafah crossing, officials said.
The medical supplies were sent by Algeria and Qatar and arrived at Alexandria port and the city of el-Arish in northern Sinai, before being transferred to Gaza.
17 dec 2014
The Health Ministry in Gaza Strip called upon its minister Dr. Jawad Awad to work on solving the health crisis in the Strip before it is too late in light of the acute shortage of 30% of medicines and 50% of medical disposables in Gaza health services.
Spokesman for the ministry Ashraf Qudra told a press conference on Tuesday that the continued strike of the cleaning companies has prevented 2800 patients from undergoing medical surgeries, and deprived 42,000 others from outpatient clinics services.
“The strike crisis threatens the lives of 113 premature babies in incubators, 100 intensive care unit patients, 500 kidney failure patients, and dozens of people who suffer heart diseases.”
The spokesman called on the Egyptian authorities to open the Rafah crossing in both directions for patients and medical aid convoys in light of the deteriorating health condition in Gaza Strip.
He hailed the Palestinian civil society and youth activists’ voluntary contribution in cleaning Gaza’s health services, pointing out that 60% of the Strip’s health sector workers were not paid over the past six months.
The spokesman said that the state of emergency is still declared in all Gaza’s hospitals and health services.
Spokesman for the ministry Ashraf Qudra told a press conference on Tuesday that the continued strike of the cleaning companies has prevented 2800 patients from undergoing medical surgeries, and deprived 42,000 others from outpatient clinics services.
“The strike crisis threatens the lives of 113 premature babies in incubators, 100 intensive care unit patients, 500 kidney failure patients, and dozens of people who suffer heart diseases.”
The spokesman called on the Egyptian authorities to open the Rafah crossing in both directions for patients and medical aid convoys in light of the deteriorating health condition in Gaza Strip.
He hailed the Palestinian civil society and youth activists’ voluntary contribution in cleaning Gaza’s health services, pointing out that 60% of the Strip’s health sector workers were not paid over the past six months.
The spokesman said that the state of emergency is still declared in all Gaza’s hospitals and health services.
4 dec 2014
The European Union, Wednesday, made a contribution of approximately €23.5 million to the November payment of salaries and pensions for around 68,500 Palestinian civil servants and pensioners in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip.
According to the PNN, this contribution, which is channelled through the PEGASE mechanism, is being funded by the European Union (€18.3 million) and the governments of Sweden (SEK 40.0 million or c.€4.3 million) and The Netherlands (c.€0.9 million earmarked specifically for PA salaries in the justice sector).
"The European Union is making this important contribution to the Palestinian Authority budget to help pay the salaries of civil servants and pensioners. We are fully aware of the financial difficulties the PA is facing particularly at a time when it is working to assume its full responsibilities in Gaza. I would like to thank Sweden and the Netherlands for their contribution through the PEGASE mechanism. We hope that other donors will generously provide assistance to enable the PA to continue to function efficiently and effectively," EU Representative John Gatt-Rutter stated.
"The Palestinian Authority has made significant tangible progress over the past few years in building the institutions of a future Palestinian state. The EU will continue to support these efforts not only in order to guarantee the delivery of essential services to the Palestinian people, but also, as part of its contribution to Palestinian state building".
PNN notes that most of the EU's assistance to the Palestinian Authority is channelled through PEGASE, a financial mechanism launched in 2008 to support the PA Reform and Development Plan (2008-2010) and subsequent Palestinian national plans.
As well as helping to meet a substantial proportion of its running costs, European funds support major reform and development programmes in key ministries, to help prepare the PA for statehood.
Since February 2008, around €1.8 billion have been disbursed through the PEGASE Direct Financial Support programmes. In addition, the EU has provided assistance to the Palestinian people through UNRWA and a wide range of cooperation projects.
According to the PNN, this contribution, which is channelled through the PEGASE mechanism, is being funded by the European Union (€18.3 million) and the governments of Sweden (SEK 40.0 million or c.€4.3 million) and The Netherlands (c.€0.9 million earmarked specifically for PA salaries in the justice sector).
"The European Union is making this important contribution to the Palestinian Authority budget to help pay the salaries of civil servants and pensioners. We are fully aware of the financial difficulties the PA is facing particularly at a time when it is working to assume its full responsibilities in Gaza. I would like to thank Sweden and the Netherlands for their contribution through the PEGASE mechanism. We hope that other donors will generously provide assistance to enable the PA to continue to function efficiently and effectively," EU Representative John Gatt-Rutter stated.
"The Palestinian Authority has made significant tangible progress over the past few years in building the institutions of a future Palestinian state. The EU will continue to support these efforts not only in order to guarantee the delivery of essential services to the Palestinian people, but also, as part of its contribution to Palestinian state building".
PNN notes that most of the EU's assistance to the Palestinian Authority is channelled through PEGASE, a financial mechanism launched in 2008 to support the PA Reform and Development Plan (2008-2010) and subsequent Palestinian national plans.
As well as helping to meet a substantial proportion of its running costs, European funds support major reform and development programmes in key ministries, to help prepare the PA for statehood.
Since February 2008, around €1.8 billion have been disbursed through the PEGASE Direct Financial Support programmes. In addition, the EU has provided assistance to the Palestinian people through UNRWA and a wide range of cooperation projects.
The Gaza-based Health Ministry suspended its health care services due to the heaps of waste piled up in hospitals as the cleaning staff remains on strike in protest at unpaid salaries dating back six months.
Spokesman for the Ministry Ashraf al-Qudra said in an exclusive statement to the PIC that the state of affairs in Gaza hospitals is quite tragic due to the heaps of waste and bio-organic filth accumulated in hospitals due to the lack of cleaners.
The official warned that patients, medical teams, Intensive Care Units and operation rooms are particularly at risk due to the strike initiated in 13 public hospitals, employing some 750 cleaners, he said.
The emergency committee at the Health Ministry opted for closing down outpatient clinics in all the hospitals as of tomorrow morning (Thursday) until further notice.
Al-Qudra further attributed the crisis to abstention of cleaning companies from restocking hospitals with the needed equipment.
Around 180 surgeries were called off due to the strike, al-Qudra reported.
He called on the unity government and the Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC) and civil society organizations to step in and work on assuaging the crisis as soon as possible.
Hamas holds PA responsible for health crisis in Gaza
Hamas Movement on Thursday held PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas and premier of the unity government Rami Hamdallah responsible for the health crisis in Gaza Strip.
Spokesman for the Movement Fawzi Barhoum slammed Abbas and Hamdallah’s negligence policy towards Gaza health care services.
He pointed out that cleaning companies have completely stopped their services in all Gaza’s hospitals and health centers for not being paid for the past seven months.
The PA and unity government’s decision not to pay salaries of the cleaning workers in Gaza has deepened the catastrophic health crisis in the Strip, he charged, holding Health Minister Jawad al-Awad, the Prime Minister Rami Hamdallah, and PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas fully responsible for the serious implications of the health crisis.
In his turn, Nasr al-Tatar, the general director of al-Shifa hospital in Gaza City, said that the continued health crisis gravely threatens the lives of hundreds of patients and the operations of health services as a whole.
No surgery could be made due to the massive problem of pollution in all hospitals and medical centers, he added.
Cleaning companies in the Strip declared a general strike following the national unity government's denial of their financial dues, as they have not received their salaries for more than seven months.
Spokesman for the Ministry Ashraf al-Qudra said in an exclusive statement to the PIC that the state of affairs in Gaza hospitals is quite tragic due to the heaps of waste and bio-organic filth accumulated in hospitals due to the lack of cleaners.
The official warned that patients, medical teams, Intensive Care Units and operation rooms are particularly at risk due to the strike initiated in 13 public hospitals, employing some 750 cleaners, he said.
The emergency committee at the Health Ministry opted for closing down outpatient clinics in all the hospitals as of tomorrow morning (Thursday) until further notice.
Al-Qudra further attributed the crisis to abstention of cleaning companies from restocking hospitals with the needed equipment.
Around 180 surgeries were called off due to the strike, al-Qudra reported.
He called on the unity government and the Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC) and civil society organizations to step in and work on assuaging the crisis as soon as possible.
Hamas holds PA responsible for health crisis in Gaza
Hamas Movement on Thursday held PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas and premier of the unity government Rami Hamdallah responsible for the health crisis in Gaza Strip.
Spokesman for the Movement Fawzi Barhoum slammed Abbas and Hamdallah’s negligence policy towards Gaza health care services.
He pointed out that cleaning companies have completely stopped their services in all Gaza’s hospitals and health centers for not being paid for the past seven months.
The PA and unity government’s decision not to pay salaries of the cleaning workers in Gaza has deepened the catastrophic health crisis in the Strip, he charged, holding Health Minister Jawad al-Awad, the Prime Minister Rami Hamdallah, and PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas fully responsible for the serious implications of the health crisis.
In his turn, Nasr al-Tatar, the general director of al-Shifa hospital in Gaza City, said that the continued health crisis gravely threatens the lives of hundreds of patients and the operations of health services as a whole.
No surgery could be made due to the massive problem of pollution in all hospitals and medical centers, he added.
Cleaning companies in the Strip declared a general strike following the national unity government's denial of their financial dues, as they have not received their salaries for more than seven months.
17 nov 2014
Iyad Salman was terribly shocked to find out that his 9-year-old son, Mohammad, has osteoporosis, an illness that became hugely spread between the children of Gaza.
Iyad assured that he was always keen that his children have a healthy lifestyle.
However, his son became ill after buying and drinking desalinated water from carts that sell it in Tal-Sultan neighborhood in Rafah where he lives.
Mohammed's doctor immediately diagnosed the causative of the illness to be the sold desalinated water, which was reiterated by the head of water monitoring department in the Ministry of Health, saying that the lack of chloride in the water causes osteoporosis, especially for children.
Despite knowing the causes for the illness, there is no substitute for the desalinated water, since the water provided by the Municipality is salted and unfit for drinking, and Israeli occupation control over more than 82% of Palestinian water.
Iyad assured that he was always keen that his children have a healthy lifestyle.
However, his son became ill after buying and drinking desalinated water from carts that sell it in Tal-Sultan neighborhood in Rafah where he lives.
Mohammed's doctor immediately diagnosed the causative of the illness to be the sold desalinated water, which was reiterated by the head of water monitoring department in the Ministry of Health, saying that the lack of chloride in the water causes osteoporosis, especially for children.
Despite knowing the causes for the illness, there is no substitute for the desalinated water, since the water provided by the Municipality is salted and unfit for drinking, and Israeli occupation control over more than 82% of Palestinian water.
Israel has blocked Dr. Mads Gilbert from entering the country and, thereby, accessing the Gaza Strip but denied, Monday, that it had imposed a lifelong ban on the medic.
"He has been banned from entering Israel," Foreign Ministry spokesman Paul Hirschson told AFP, categorically denying reprts that Gilbert had been blocked from entering Gaza.
Access to Gaza, under an Israeli blockade since 2006, is possible only through the Erez crossing, from Israel, or via the Rafah terminal at the Egyptian border.
However, Ma'an reports, Rafah has been blocked by Cairo since a deadly suicide bombing in northern Sinai on October 24, leaving Erez as the only point of entry to the Palestinian territory.
"He has been banned from entering Israel," Foreign Ministry spokesman Paul Hirschson told AFP, categorically denying reprts that Gilbert had been blocked from entering Gaza.
Access to Gaza, under an Israeli blockade since 2006, is possible only through the Erez crossing, from Israel, or via the Rafah terminal at the Egyptian border.
However, Ma'an reports, Rafah has been blocked by Cairo since a deadly suicide bombing in northern Sinai on October 24, leaving Erez as the only point of entry to the Palestinian territory.
15 nov 2014
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Norwegian volunteer physician Dr. Mads Gilbert has been banned by Israel from ever returning to the Gaza Strip.
Dr. Gilbert, who most recently spent time working in Gaza during Israel's devastating assault, this past summer, which left nearly 2,200 dead and some 11,000 injured, says that he was denied entry in October, when he tried to re-enter the Strip through Erez crossing. The Israeli foreign ministry has confirmed the ban, according to Ma'an, calling Dr. Gilbert a "Jekyll and Hyde" figure, apparently for his political activism on behalf of the Palestinian cause. Gilbert has been a vocal critic of Israeli policy against Palestinians, particularly in the Gaza Strip. |
10 nov 2014
At least five Palestinian doctors are incarcerated in the Israeli occupation prisons, serving varying terms amounting to as long as 12 years in jail, the Ahrar Center for Prisoner Studies and Human Rights documented.
The Ahrar Center identified the prisoner doctors as General Practitioner Amjad Qubha, 45, sentenced to 18 years in prison; Dentist Amjad Hamouri, 40, sentenced administratively to 19 months and had initiated a 63-day-long hunger-strike; PLC deputy and Gastroenterologist Dr. Samir al-Kadhi, 58; Ophthalmologist and member of al-Khalil municipality Dr. Farouk Ashour, 41, and serving a three-month-prison-term; and Dentist Firas al-Qawasmi, 32, sentenced administratively to six months.
The prisoners’ families appealed to the Palestinian doctors’ union to step in so as to activate the detainees’ cause and push the Israeli wardens to release them without further delay.
Fuad al-Khuffash, Head of the Ahrar Center, appealed to all international institutions and organizations active in the prisoners’ affairs to step up pressure on the Israeli occupation authorities in order to restore the doctors’ freedom, taking into consideration the inherently noble and humanitarian essence of their mission already revered by all international laws and treaties.
http://english.palinfo
The Ahrar Center identified the prisoner doctors as General Practitioner Amjad Qubha, 45, sentenced to 18 years in prison; Dentist Amjad Hamouri, 40, sentenced administratively to 19 months and had initiated a 63-day-long hunger-strike; PLC deputy and Gastroenterologist Dr. Samir al-Kadhi, 58; Ophthalmologist and member of al-Khalil municipality Dr. Farouk Ashour, 41, and serving a three-month-prison-term; and Dentist Firas al-Qawasmi, 32, sentenced administratively to six months.
The prisoners’ families appealed to the Palestinian doctors’ union to step in so as to activate the detainees’ cause and push the Israeli wardens to release them without further delay.
Fuad al-Khuffash, Head of the Ahrar Center, appealed to all international institutions and organizations active in the prisoners’ affairs to step up pressure on the Israeli occupation authorities in order to restore the doctors’ freedom, taking into consideration the inherently noble and humanitarian essence of their mission already revered by all international laws and treaties.
http://english.palinfo
23 oct 2014
and Expected Suspension of Health Services at UAE Red Crescent Hospital
The Palestinian Centre for Human Rights (PCHR) warns of the disastrous and grave deterioration that may affect the Palestinian patients in the Gaza Strip due to the lack of fuel that is necessary to operate electricity generators as an alternative power supply in light of prolonged outages.
PCHR calls upon the Palestinian President and government to immediately intervene to ensure the prompt supply of fuel needed for the operation of generators in health facilities in the Gaza Strip.
According to investigations conducted by PCHR, hospitals, clinics and first aid centers suffer a real crisis due to the lack of diesel needed for the operation of generators, especially the UAE Red Crescent Hospital in Rafah, which may stop offering medical services within hours because it has run out of the diesel used for generators.
Health facilities of the Palestinian Ministry of Health in the Gaza Strip have been suffering a real crisis due to the stoppage of the power plant that was bombarded by Israeli forces on 28 July 2014.
There is an acute shortage of diesel used for generators at hospitals, clinics and first aid centers in light of the power outages.
Dr. Ashraf al-Qedrah, spokesperson of the Palestinian Ministry of Health, stated to PCHR that "the Palestinian Ministry of Health in the Gaza Strip suffers due to the aggravating fuel crisis in all health facilities.
The Ministry's fuel reservoir is only sufficient for a maximum of two days."
He added that "efforts exercised by the Ministry have helped delaying this crisis for hours or 2 days in some hospitals."
Al-Qedra explained that "the financial donation made by a number of the Ministry's donors ended by the beginning of October 2014 and there is no sufficient funds to buy fuel for hospitals and health facilities in the Gaza Strip."
According to Dr. al-Qedra, The Gaza Strip health facilities need approximately 700,000 liters monthly; a daily average of 23,000 – 25,000 liters, in light of the frequent power outages."
Dr. al-Qedra said that "the lives of thousands of patients would be at stake if the health facilities stopped offering health services, including 113 nurseries in the Gaza Strip hospitals; over 100 patients in the intensive care units; 500 patients suffering from renal failure and use 88 dialysis machines 3 days a week; departments of birth, emergency rooms; 45 operation rooms, 11 of which are used for Caesarean section; and 5 central blood banks, as they all depend on electricity."
Dr Walid Abu Madhi, the director of the UAE Red Crescent Hospital in Rafah, told PCHR that the fuel crisis started on Monday, 20 October 2014. The hospital had 300 liters of fuel, which is barely sufficient for operating generators for 12 hours in light of the power outage.
The hospital is threatened to stop working in case the 1000 liters of fuel, which the Ministry of Health provided, runs out. The aforementioned amount of fuel will serve the needs of the hospital for only three days.
Dr Madhi confirmed that when the fuel runs out, the hospital, which is the only birth and child care center in Rafah, will shut down. Hence, the services, which the hospital provides for 600 monthly births, 2,500 monthly pregnancy cases, 1,600 patients, and 400 preterm births, will no longer be available.
PCHR expresses its deep concern about the deterioration of the health conditions of the Palestinian patients. Therefore, PCHR:
1. Calls upon president Mahmoud Abbas to immediately intervene with the Ministry of Health to ensure prompt supply of fules for health facilities in the Gaza Strip; and
2. Calls for coordination between the departments of the Ministry of Health in Ramallah and Gaza, especially in the light of the atmosphere of reconciliation and the formation of a Palestinian unity government, which is hoped to effectively assume its responsibilities and ensure the right of health, incuding the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health.
Public Document
For more information please call PCHR office in Gaza, Gaza Strip, on +972 8 2824776 - 2825893
PCHR, 29 Omer El Mukhtar St., El Remal, PO Box 1328 Gaza, Gaza Strip. E-mail: pchr@pchrgaza.org, Webpage http://www.pchrgaza.org
The Palestinian Centre for Human Rights (PCHR) warns of the disastrous and grave deterioration that may affect the Palestinian patients in the Gaza Strip due to the lack of fuel that is necessary to operate electricity generators as an alternative power supply in light of prolonged outages.
PCHR calls upon the Palestinian President and government to immediately intervene to ensure the prompt supply of fuel needed for the operation of generators in health facilities in the Gaza Strip.
According to investigations conducted by PCHR, hospitals, clinics and first aid centers suffer a real crisis due to the lack of diesel needed for the operation of generators, especially the UAE Red Crescent Hospital in Rafah, which may stop offering medical services within hours because it has run out of the diesel used for generators.
Health facilities of the Palestinian Ministry of Health in the Gaza Strip have been suffering a real crisis due to the stoppage of the power plant that was bombarded by Israeli forces on 28 July 2014.
There is an acute shortage of diesel used for generators at hospitals, clinics and first aid centers in light of the power outages.
Dr. Ashraf al-Qedrah, spokesperson of the Palestinian Ministry of Health, stated to PCHR that "the Palestinian Ministry of Health in the Gaza Strip suffers due to the aggravating fuel crisis in all health facilities.
The Ministry's fuel reservoir is only sufficient for a maximum of two days."
He added that "efforts exercised by the Ministry have helped delaying this crisis for hours or 2 days in some hospitals."
Al-Qedra explained that "the financial donation made by a number of the Ministry's donors ended by the beginning of October 2014 and there is no sufficient funds to buy fuel for hospitals and health facilities in the Gaza Strip."
According to Dr. al-Qedra, The Gaza Strip health facilities need approximately 700,000 liters monthly; a daily average of 23,000 – 25,000 liters, in light of the frequent power outages."
Dr. al-Qedra said that "the lives of thousands of patients would be at stake if the health facilities stopped offering health services, including 113 nurseries in the Gaza Strip hospitals; over 100 patients in the intensive care units; 500 patients suffering from renal failure and use 88 dialysis machines 3 days a week; departments of birth, emergency rooms; 45 operation rooms, 11 of which are used for Caesarean section; and 5 central blood banks, as they all depend on electricity."
Dr Walid Abu Madhi, the director of the UAE Red Crescent Hospital in Rafah, told PCHR that the fuel crisis started on Monday, 20 October 2014. The hospital had 300 liters of fuel, which is barely sufficient for operating generators for 12 hours in light of the power outage.
The hospital is threatened to stop working in case the 1000 liters of fuel, which the Ministry of Health provided, runs out. The aforementioned amount of fuel will serve the needs of the hospital for only three days.
Dr Madhi confirmed that when the fuel runs out, the hospital, which is the only birth and child care center in Rafah, will shut down. Hence, the services, which the hospital provides for 600 monthly births, 2,500 monthly pregnancy cases, 1,600 patients, and 400 preterm births, will no longer be available.
PCHR expresses its deep concern about the deterioration of the health conditions of the Palestinian patients. Therefore, PCHR:
1. Calls upon president Mahmoud Abbas to immediately intervene with the Ministry of Health to ensure prompt supply of fules for health facilities in the Gaza Strip; and
2. Calls for coordination between the departments of the Ministry of Health in Ramallah and Gaza, especially in the light of the atmosphere of reconciliation and the formation of a Palestinian unity government, which is hoped to effectively assume its responsibilities and ensure the right of health, incuding the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health.
Public Document
For more information please call PCHR office in Gaza, Gaza Strip, on +972 8 2824776 - 2825893
PCHR, 29 Omer El Mukhtar St., El Remal, PO Box 1328 Gaza, Gaza Strip. E-mail: pchr@pchrgaza.org, Webpage http://www.pchrgaza.org
Gaza health sector faces increasing crisis
UAE Red Crescent Hospital was forced to stop its medical services due to the increasing fuel crisis in Gaza’s hospitals in light of the unity government’s inattentiveness to the deteriorating health situation in the besieged Strip. According to investigations conducted by the Palestinian Centre for Human Rights (PCHR), hospitals, clinics and first aid centers suffer a real crisis due to the lack of diesel needed for the operation of generators, especially the UAE Red Crescent Hospital in Rafah, which may stop offering medical services within hours because it has run out of the diesel used for generators.
Health facilities of the Palestinian Ministry of Health in the Gaza Strip have been suffering a real crisis due to the stoppage of the power plant that was bombarded by Israeli occupation forces on 28 July 2014. There is an acute shortage of diesel used for generators at hospitals, clinics and first aid centers in light of the power outages.
Dr. Walid Abu Madhi, the director of the UAE Red Crescent Hospital in Rafah, told PCHR that the fuel crisis started on Monday, 20 October 2014. The hospital had 300 liters of fuel, which is barely sufficient for operating generators for 12 hours in light of the power outage.
The hospital is threatened to stop working in case the 1000 liters of fuel, which the Ministry of Health provided, runs out. The aforementioned amount of fuel will serve the needs of the hospital for only three days, he added.
Dr. Madhi confirmed that when the fuel runs out, the hospital, which is the only birth and child care center in Rafah, will shut down. Hence, the services, which the hospital provides for 600 monthly births, 2,500 monthly pregnancy cases, 1,600 patients, and 400 preterm births, will no longer be available.
PCHR for its part expressed its deep concern about the deterioration of the health conditions of the Palestinian patients, warning of the disastrous and grave deterioration that may affect the Palestinian patients in the Gaza Strip due to the lack of fuel that is necessary to operate electricity generators as an alternative power supply in light of prolonged outages.
Along the same line, Dr. Ashraf al-Qedrah, spokesperson of the Palestinian Ministry of Health, told the PCHR that "the Palestinian Ministry of Health in the Gaza Strip suffers due to the aggravating fuel crisis in all health facilities. The Ministry's fuel reservoir is only sufficient for a maximum of two days."
He added that "efforts exercised by the Ministry have helped in delaying this crisis for hours or 2 days in some hospitals."
Al-Qedra explained that "the financial donation made by a number of the Ministry's donors ended by the beginning of October 2014 and there is no sufficient funds to buy fuel for hospitals and health facilities in the Gaza Strip."
According to Dr. al-Qedra, The Gaza Strip health facilities need approximately 700,000 liters monthly; a daily average of 23,000 – 25,000 liters, in light of the frequent power outages."
Dr. al-Qedra said that "the lives of thousands of patients would be at stake if the health facilities stopped offering health services, including 113 nurseries in the Gaza Strip hospitals; over 100 patients in the intensive care units; 500 patients suffering from renal failure and use 88 dialysis machines 3 days a week; departments of birth, emergency rooms; 45 operation rooms, 11 of which are used for Caesarean section; and 5 central blood banks, as they all depend on electricity."
Al-Qudra said in a report published by Quds press that Gaza health sector suffers also different crisis that negatively affect Palestinian patients amid local and international indifference.
He pointed out that foodservice companies declared intention to stop offering services to patients in Shifa Hospital starting from November in protest to five months of work for which they have not been paid.
Al-Qedra also pointed to the strike by cleaners of Gaza hospitals over their unpaid wages for five consecutive months.
In its turn, the Health ministry called upon local and international human rights institutions and media outlets to immediately intervene and put an end to the health crisis in the Gaza Strip.
On Wednesday, Gaza medical workers went on strike in protest against unity government's rejection to pay their salaries for five months.
Nearly 40,000 Gaza government workers have not been paid for more than five months, while 80,000 others of Ramallah government have received their salaries. The unpaid workers were promised that their salaries would be unfrozen as soon as the new Palestinian unity government was formed in early June, but this did not happen.
UAE Red Crescent Hospital was forced to stop its medical services due to the increasing fuel crisis in Gaza’s hospitals in light of the unity government’s inattentiveness to the deteriorating health situation in the besieged Strip. According to investigations conducted by the Palestinian Centre for Human Rights (PCHR), hospitals, clinics and first aid centers suffer a real crisis due to the lack of diesel needed for the operation of generators, especially the UAE Red Crescent Hospital in Rafah, which may stop offering medical services within hours because it has run out of the diesel used for generators.
Health facilities of the Palestinian Ministry of Health in the Gaza Strip have been suffering a real crisis due to the stoppage of the power plant that was bombarded by Israeli occupation forces on 28 July 2014. There is an acute shortage of diesel used for generators at hospitals, clinics and first aid centers in light of the power outages.
Dr. Walid Abu Madhi, the director of the UAE Red Crescent Hospital in Rafah, told PCHR that the fuel crisis started on Monday, 20 October 2014. The hospital had 300 liters of fuel, which is barely sufficient for operating generators for 12 hours in light of the power outage.
The hospital is threatened to stop working in case the 1000 liters of fuel, which the Ministry of Health provided, runs out. The aforementioned amount of fuel will serve the needs of the hospital for only three days, he added.
Dr. Madhi confirmed that when the fuel runs out, the hospital, which is the only birth and child care center in Rafah, will shut down. Hence, the services, which the hospital provides for 600 monthly births, 2,500 monthly pregnancy cases, 1,600 patients, and 400 preterm births, will no longer be available.
PCHR for its part expressed its deep concern about the deterioration of the health conditions of the Palestinian patients, warning of the disastrous and grave deterioration that may affect the Palestinian patients in the Gaza Strip due to the lack of fuel that is necessary to operate electricity generators as an alternative power supply in light of prolonged outages.
Along the same line, Dr. Ashraf al-Qedrah, spokesperson of the Palestinian Ministry of Health, told the PCHR that "the Palestinian Ministry of Health in the Gaza Strip suffers due to the aggravating fuel crisis in all health facilities. The Ministry's fuel reservoir is only sufficient for a maximum of two days."
He added that "efforts exercised by the Ministry have helped in delaying this crisis for hours or 2 days in some hospitals."
Al-Qedra explained that "the financial donation made by a number of the Ministry's donors ended by the beginning of October 2014 and there is no sufficient funds to buy fuel for hospitals and health facilities in the Gaza Strip."
According to Dr. al-Qedra, The Gaza Strip health facilities need approximately 700,000 liters monthly; a daily average of 23,000 – 25,000 liters, in light of the frequent power outages."
Dr. al-Qedra said that "the lives of thousands of patients would be at stake if the health facilities stopped offering health services, including 113 nurseries in the Gaza Strip hospitals; over 100 patients in the intensive care units; 500 patients suffering from renal failure and use 88 dialysis machines 3 days a week; departments of birth, emergency rooms; 45 operation rooms, 11 of which are used for Caesarean section; and 5 central blood banks, as they all depend on electricity."
Al-Qudra said in a report published by Quds press that Gaza health sector suffers also different crisis that negatively affect Palestinian patients amid local and international indifference.
He pointed out that foodservice companies declared intention to stop offering services to patients in Shifa Hospital starting from November in protest to five months of work for which they have not been paid.
Al-Qedra also pointed to the strike by cleaners of Gaza hospitals over their unpaid wages for five consecutive months.
In its turn, the Health ministry called upon local and international human rights institutions and media outlets to immediately intervene and put an end to the health crisis in the Gaza Strip.
On Wednesday, Gaza medical workers went on strike in protest against unity government's rejection to pay their salaries for five months.
Nearly 40,000 Gaza government workers have not been paid for more than five months, while 80,000 others of Ramallah government have received their salaries. The unpaid workers were promised that their salaries would be unfrozen as soon as the new Palestinian unity government was formed in early June, but this did not happen.
