5 sept 2018
Jerusalem, 5 September 2018: The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA): This week, final stocks of emergency fuel will be delivered to critical facilities in the Gaza Strip, through the United Nations-Assisted Emergency Fuel Program.
The Humanitarian Coordinator, Jamie McGoldrick, has written to the donor community requesting immediate support for the program, which provides life-saving emergency fuel to operate standby emergency power generators at critical health centers, and water and sanitation facilities in the Gaza Strip. Funds donated thus far in 2018 have been depleted.
Life-saving services in Gaza currently depend on the UN’s delivery of emergency fuel, due to an energy crisis that leaves the two million Palestinian residents of Gaza, over half of whom are children, with only 4-5 hours of electricity from the grid per day. Based on the current electricity deficit in Gaza, a minimum of $4.5 million is required to sustain these essential services until the end of the year.
“If new funds are not received immediately, we will be facing a potentially catastrophic breakdown in essential service delivery,” said Mr. McGoldrick.
“Services provided at hospitals, clinics, as well as sewage treatment, water and sanitation facilities will cease. Some hospitals are already within a week of closing.
The most vulnerable people of Gaza, who rely on public services and have limited income sources, will be the most negatively affected.”
Hospitals in the Gaza Strip only have enough fuel to support service provision just over two weeks, in total, with some facilities at greater risk: Al Aqsa Hospital in the Middle Area of the Gaza Strip, for example, only has enough emergency fuel to sustain services for just under a week, putting the lives of over 500 vulnerable patients at risk each day.
These include patients being treated in intensive care; new-born babies in neonatal units; patients requiring emergency surgery; dialysis patients treated for kidney failure; and those needing emergency care.
More than 4,800 patients in Gaza daily require access to lifesaving or life-sustaining health care that requires a constant supply of electricity. Of these, at least 300 are connected to life-saving medical machines such as ventilators, dialysis machines, incubators and anesthetic machines, where disruption or electricity cut-out puts patients at immediate risk of brain damage or death.
Without fuel, some 300,000 people will potentially be affected by serious public health concerns as sewage could overflow onto streets. Overall, water and wastewater services are dropping to less than 20 per cent of capacity and water availability is dropping below 50 litres per capita per day, less than half of the minimum requirement according to WHO. Additionally, some essential infrastructure risks significant damage due to lack of fuel to operate key parts, with potential loss of donor investments as a result.
“The situation in Gaza is desperate. Over a decade of blockade and unresolved internal political divisions have stripped people of their rights and left over two-thirds of the population dependent on humanitarian aid,” said Mr. McGoldrick. “We can prevent a further slide into catastrophe by ensuring that essential services continue, but we need the international community to step up immediately with support to do so.”
END
For more information, please contact Mr. Ofir Feuerstein, +972 (0) 54 33 11 836, feuerstein@un.org
The Humanitarian Coordinator, Jamie McGoldrick, has written to the donor community requesting immediate support for the program, which provides life-saving emergency fuel to operate standby emergency power generators at critical health centers, and water and sanitation facilities in the Gaza Strip. Funds donated thus far in 2018 have been depleted.
Life-saving services in Gaza currently depend on the UN’s delivery of emergency fuel, due to an energy crisis that leaves the two million Palestinian residents of Gaza, over half of whom are children, with only 4-5 hours of electricity from the grid per day. Based on the current electricity deficit in Gaza, a minimum of $4.5 million is required to sustain these essential services until the end of the year.
“If new funds are not received immediately, we will be facing a potentially catastrophic breakdown in essential service delivery,” said Mr. McGoldrick.
“Services provided at hospitals, clinics, as well as sewage treatment, water and sanitation facilities will cease. Some hospitals are already within a week of closing.
The most vulnerable people of Gaza, who rely on public services and have limited income sources, will be the most negatively affected.”
Hospitals in the Gaza Strip only have enough fuel to support service provision just over two weeks, in total, with some facilities at greater risk: Al Aqsa Hospital in the Middle Area of the Gaza Strip, for example, only has enough emergency fuel to sustain services for just under a week, putting the lives of over 500 vulnerable patients at risk each day.
These include patients being treated in intensive care; new-born babies in neonatal units; patients requiring emergency surgery; dialysis patients treated for kidney failure; and those needing emergency care.
More than 4,800 patients in Gaza daily require access to lifesaving or life-sustaining health care that requires a constant supply of electricity. Of these, at least 300 are connected to life-saving medical machines such as ventilators, dialysis machines, incubators and anesthetic machines, where disruption or electricity cut-out puts patients at immediate risk of brain damage or death.
Without fuel, some 300,000 people will potentially be affected by serious public health concerns as sewage could overflow onto streets. Overall, water and wastewater services are dropping to less than 20 per cent of capacity and water availability is dropping below 50 litres per capita per day, less than half of the minimum requirement according to WHO. Additionally, some essential infrastructure risks significant damage due to lack of fuel to operate key parts, with potential loss of donor investments as a result.
“The situation in Gaza is desperate. Over a decade of blockade and unresolved internal political divisions have stripped people of their rights and left over two-thirds of the population dependent on humanitarian aid,” said Mr. McGoldrick. “We can prevent a further slide into catastrophe by ensuring that essential services continue, but we need the international community to step up immediately with support to do so.”
END
For more information, please contact Mr. Ofir Feuerstein, +972 (0) 54 33 11 836, feuerstein@un.org
1 sept 2018
The Palestinian Health Ministry has reported that Israeli soldiers shot and seriously injured, on Friday evening, a Palestinian female medic, east of Rafah, in the southern part of the Gaza Strip, during their excessive use of force against the Great Return March in the coastal region.
The Health Ministry said the medic, identified as Shorouq Abu Mosameh, was seriously injured after the soldiers shot her with a live round in the chest, which exited through her back. video
She was rushed to the Surgery Room at the Gaza European Hospital, and is currently in very serious condition in the Intensive Care Unit.
The Health Ministry said Israeli soldiers injured, Friday, 180 Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, including 59 who were rushed to hospitals, including a seriously wounded child, 10 years of age; the rest received treatment at field clinics.
In an interview after being injured in a previous Israeli attack while performing her humanitarian duties, Shorouq called for international protection to the medics, who are directly and deliberately targeted by the army while performing their duties in aiding wounded Palestinians during the Great Return March procession in the Gaza Strip.
“My message to the world, and the International Community, is to provide protection to us as medics, and to the journalists facing constant Israeli assaults and violations. I was targeted by the army, although I was wearing a white nurses’ gown,” she said, “This is my message to the world, the army continues to target us, and killed our colleague, medic Razan Najjar, and journalist Yasser Mortaja.
Our message to the world is that we demand our legitimate rights as journalists and medics, to be provided with international protection.”
The Health Ministry said the medic, identified as Shorouq Abu Mosameh, was seriously injured after the soldiers shot her with a live round in the chest, which exited through her back. video
She was rushed to the Surgery Room at the Gaza European Hospital, and is currently in very serious condition in the Intensive Care Unit.
The Health Ministry said Israeli soldiers injured, Friday, 180 Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, including 59 who were rushed to hospitals, including a seriously wounded child, 10 years of age; the rest received treatment at field clinics.
In an interview after being injured in a previous Israeli attack while performing her humanitarian duties, Shorouq called for international protection to the medics, who are directly and deliberately targeted by the army while performing their duties in aiding wounded Palestinians during the Great Return March procession in the Gaza Strip.
“My message to the world, and the International Community, is to provide protection to us as medics, and to the journalists facing constant Israeli assaults and violations. I was targeted by the army, although I was wearing a white nurses’ gown,” she said, “This is my message to the world, the army continues to target us, and killed our colleague, medic Razan Najjar, and journalist Yasser Mortaja.
Our message to the world is that we demand our legitimate rights as journalists and medics, to be provided with international protection.”
31 aug 2018
180 Palestinians were wounded by live ammunition and tear gas inhalation during confrontations with Israeli forces, on Friday.
According to the Ministry of Health, the number of participants wounded with live bullets, in Gaza’s Great March of Return, including a paramedic who was shot in the chest, to the east of Rafah, in the southern Gaza Strip, reached 180.
The Ministry announced that volunteer paramedic Shurooq Abu Musameh was seriously wounded in the chest by direct gunfire.
Local sources said that a number of journalists and paramedics were wounded by Israeli forces on the eastern border of the Gaza Strip while covering the Great March.
According to medical sources, Mohammed Abu Sultan a cameraman was shot in the foot during his coverage of confrontations in Eastern Rafah, south of the Gaza Strip; journalist Mohammed Zo’rob inhaled gas East of Khan Yunis.
In the West Bank, a number of Palestinians were injured during weekly nonviolent marches condemning Israeli settlement policies.
Israeli forces cracked down on a nonviolent protest near the village of Ras Karkar, northwest of Ramallah, in the occupied West Bank, according to local PNN sources.
Eye witnesses said that Israeli soldiers fired rubber-coated rounds and teargas canisters to disperse protesters who were performing Friday prayers on a land outside the village, which Israeli occupation authorities are planning to confiscate, in order to build a settlement.
Medical sources additionally reported that several cases of suffocation from teargas inhalation occurred among the protesters.
In another Israeli violation, a Palestinian child was injured on Friday, when he was hit by the shrapnel of a stun grenade fired by Israeli soldiers at Palestinian protesters in the village of Ni’iln, west of Ramallah.
Israeli soldiers fired stun grenades at demonstrators who were protesting near the village, against Israeli settlements and the apartheid wall, injuring an 12-year-old with the shrapnel of a stun grenade.
More than 171 Palestinians have been killed and 17,500 others injured since the outbreak of the Gaza border protests on March 30. The protests call for ending the 12-year-long Israeli blockade of Gaza and for the right of return of the refugees.
According to the Ministry of Health, the number of participants wounded with live bullets, in Gaza’s Great March of Return, including a paramedic who was shot in the chest, to the east of Rafah, in the southern Gaza Strip, reached 180.
The Ministry announced that volunteer paramedic Shurooq Abu Musameh was seriously wounded in the chest by direct gunfire.
Local sources said that a number of journalists and paramedics were wounded by Israeli forces on the eastern border of the Gaza Strip while covering the Great March.
According to medical sources, Mohammed Abu Sultan a cameraman was shot in the foot during his coverage of confrontations in Eastern Rafah, south of the Gaza Strip; journalist Mohammed Zo’rob inhaled gas East of Khan Yunis.
In the West Bank, a number of Palestinians were injured during weekly nonviolent marches condemning Israeli settlement policies.
Israeli forces cracked down on a nonviolent protest near the village of Ras Karkar, northwest of Ramallah, in the occupied West Bank, according to local PNN sources.
Eye witnesses said that Israeli soldiers fired rubber-coated rounds and teargas canisters to disperse protesters who were performing Friday prayers on a land outside the village, which Israeli occupation authorities are planning to confiscate, in order to build a settlement.
Medical sources additionally reported that several cases of suffocation from teargas inhalation occurred among the protesters.
In another Israeli violation, a Palestinian child was injured on Friday, when he was hit by the shrapnel of a stun grenade fired by Israeli soldiers at Palestinian protesters in the village of Ni’iln, west of Ramallah.
Israeli soldiers fired stun grenades at demonstrators who were protesting near the village, against Israeli settlements and the apartheid wall, injuring an 12-year-old with the shrapnel of a stun grenade.
More than 171 Palestinians have been killed and 17,500 others injured since the outbreak of the Gaza border protests on March 30. The protests call for ending the 12-year-long Israeli blockade of Gaza and for the right of return of the refugees.
30 aug 2018
The Palestinian Prisoners’ Society (PPS) has reported that Israeli soldiers abducted, on Thursday at dawn, three Palestinians, including two children, in the West Bank governorate of Bethlehem.
The Bethlehem office of the PPS said dozens of soldiers invaded Beit Fajjar town, south of the city, searched several homes and abducted Khaled Mohammad Taqatqa, 17, Sanad Majed Taqatqa, 16, and Sharif Mohammad Sbeih, 20.
Ahmad Salah, the coordinator of the Popular Committee against the Annexation Wall and Colonies in al-Khader, said the soldiers also detonated doors leading to a medical storage facility in the town, and search it.
The Bethlehem office of the PPS said dozens of soldiers invaded Beit Fajjar town, south of the city, searched several homes and abducted Khaled Mohammad Taqatqa, 17, Sanad Majed Taqatqa, 16, and Sharif Mohammad Sbeih, 20.
Ahmad Salah, the coordinator of the Popular Committee against the Annexation Wall and Colonies in al-Khader, said the soldiers also detonated doors leading to a medical storage facility in the town, and search it.
29 aug 2018
Hamza Tuman 2 months
A two-month-old infant from Gaza City breathed his last on Tuesday evening after the department of treatment abroad at the Ramallah-based health ministry refused to cover his medical expenses.
The child, Hamza Tuman, had been diagnosed with a rare genetic disease called “Wolman,” which is caused by a deficiency of an enzyme known as lysosomal acid lipase.
The health authorities in Gaza were waiting for a response from minister of health Jawwad Awwad after a medical file on the case of the child was submitted to his office, but to no avail.
In the wake of Hamza’s death, his father, Abdullah, stated that his child joined two of his brothers who had the same disease, pointing out that his health condition worsened after not receiving the needed medical care in Israeli hospitals because the department of treatment abroad in Ramallah refused to cover the cost of his treatment.
A two-month-old infant from Gaza City breathed his last on Tuesday evening after the department of treatment abroad at the Ramallah-based health ministry refused to cover his medical expenses.
The child, Hamza Tuman, had been diagnosed with a rare genetic disease called “Wolman,” which is caused by a deficiency of an enzyme known as lysosomal acid lipase.
The health authorities in Gaza were waiting for a response from minister of health Jawwad Awwad after a medical file on the case of the child was submitted to his office, but to no avail.
In the wake of Hamza’s death, his father, Abdullah, stated that his child joined two of his brothers who had the same disease, pointing out that his health condition worsened after not receiving the needed medical care in Israeli hospitals because the department of treatment abroad in Ramallah refused to cover the cost of his treatment.
28 aug 2018
The acute shortage of some types of therapeutic milk, in Gaza hospitals, is leaving infants threatened by a genetic defect that is known to cause mental disability, the Palestinian Ministry of Health warned, on Monday.
The ministry said, in a statement, that the lack of a therapeutic milk for infants infected with PKU threatens them of mental disabilities.
According to the Mayo Clinic, Phenylketonuria (fen-ul-key-toe-NU-ree-uh), also called PKU, is a rare inherited disorder that causes an amino acid called phenylalanine to build up in the body. PKU is caused by a defect in the gene that helps create the enzyme needed to break down phenylalanine.
It noted that about 107 children suffering mental retardation and psychological disorders, including 22 children under one year, are prone to mental disability due to the lack of the therapeutic milk for PKU.
Infants infected with PKU are diagnosed early after being born; they are banned from consuming animal foods.
The ministry explained, according to Al Ray Palestinian Media Agency, that the lack of milk causes complications to the sick children, beginning with a gradual decrease in IQ until they reach a state of mental disability.
It said that the therapeutic milk for the children under the age of one year is now unavailable in its stores or hospitals, with the available amount just sufficient for three weeks.
Palestinian Ministry of Health in the Gaza Strip faces a continued shortage of many types of medicines and medical consumables due to the conditions of the ongoing Israeli siege, since 2006, and the sanctions imposed by the Palestinian Authority for more than a year.
The ministry said, in a statement, that the lack of a therapeutic milk for infants infected with PKU threatens them of mental disabilities.
According to the Mayo Clinic, Phenylketonuria (fen-ul-key-toe-NU-ree-uh), also called PKU, is a rare inherited disorder that causes an amino acid called phenylalanine to build up in the body. PKU is caused by a defect in the gene that helps create the enzyme needed to break down phenylalanine.
It noted that about 107 children suffering mental retardation and psychological disorders, including 22 children under one year, are prone to mental disability due to the lack of the therapeutic milk for PKU.
Infants infected with PKU are diagnosed early after being born; they are banned from consuming animal foods.
The ministry explained, according to Al Ray Palestinian Media Agency, that the lack of milk causes complications to the sick children, beginning with a gradual decrease in IQ until they reach a state of mental disability.
It said that the therapeutic milk for the children under the age of one year is now unavailable in its stores or hospitals, with the available amount just sufficient for three weeks.
Palestinian Ministry of Health in the Gaza Strip faces a continued shortage of many types of medicines and medical consumables due to the conditions of the ongoing Israeli siege, since 2006, and the sanctions imposed by the Palestinian Authority for more than a year.
27 aug 2018
A spokesman for the Ministry of Health in Gaza, Ashraf Qedra, said that there has been no response from donors, to provide fuel for the facilities of the Ministry.
The Ministry has previously issued warnings regarding a shortage of fuel, which threatens the provision of health services to citizens.
During the past years of siege, the Ministry’s facilities in Gaza have experienced several crises due to the shortage of fuel, causing the closure of a number of health facilities and the provision of services.
The Ministry has previously issued warnings regarding a shortage of fuel, which threatens the provision of health services to citizens.
During the past years of siege, the Ministry’s facilities in Gaza have experienced several crises due to the shortage of fuel, causing the closure of a number of health facilities and the provision of services.
24 aug 2018
Dozens of Palestinian citizens were injured on Friday when the Israeli occupation forces (IOF) opened fire at the Great March of Return protesters.
Gaza Ministry of Health said that 189 Palestinians were injured, including ten children and two women, and an ambulance belonging to the Red Crescent Society was partially damaged after being deliberately targeted with Israeli gunfire.
Thousands of Palestinians, on the fourth day of Eid al-Adha, marched along Gaza's border with the 1948 occupied Palestinian territories, to take part in the protests of the 22nd Friday of the Great March of Return.
Demonstrations this Friday were organized in solidarity with medical and press crews who have been repeatedly attacked during their work near the border over the past weeks.
Since the launch of the Great March of Return on 30th March, 171 Palestinians have been killed, including 27 children, three girls, three paramedics, and two journalists.
Gaza Ministry of Health said that nine Palestinian youths were killed near the border fence during the same period and their bodies are currently detained by the IOF.
The Ministry added in a statement that at least 18,300 Palestinian citizens have been injured, including 3,600 children and 1,750 women.
Gaza Ministry of Health said that 189 Palestinians were injured, including ten children and two women, and an ambulance belonging to the Red Crescent Society was partially damaged after being deliberately targeted with Israeli gunfire.
Thousands of Palestinians, on the fourth day of Eid al-Adha, marched along Gaza's border with the 1948 occupied Palestinian territories, to take part in the protests of the 22nd Friday of the Great March of Return.
Demonstrations this Friday were organized in solidarity with medical and press crews who have been repeatedly attacked during their work near the border over the past weeks.
Since the launch of the Great March of Return on 30th March, 171 Palestinians have been killed, including 27 children, three girls, three paramedics, and two journalists.
Gaza Ministry of Health said that nine Palestinian youths were killed near the border fence during the same period and their bodies are currently detained by the IOF.
The Ministry added in a statement that at least 18,300 Palestinian citizens have been injured, including 3,600 children and 1,750 women.
22 aug 2018
The Israeli government has informed the High Court of its decision refusing to allow medical treatment for Gaza patients, even those who require life-saving intervention, “if they are related to members of Hamas,” except for patients 16 years of age, or younger.
The government said that even if the patients’ illness is fatal, and Gaza hospitals cannot treat them; they will still be denied access to Israeli and Palestinian hospitals in the country, especially in occupied Jerusalem.
It informed the High Court of its decision after seven women from Gaza filed an appeal after being forbidden from leaving the Gaza Strip for several months, although they had referrals to hospitals in occupied Jerusalem.
Israeli Supreme Court Justice Uzi Vogelman said the decision to ban the patients from entering the country is “based on assessments,” if the patients are deemed to pose a security risk.
It is worth mentioning that a similar decision was made in 2017, in order to impose further pressure on Hamas, by denying the patients access to life-saving treatment.
Hundreds of patients from the Gaza Strip, including children, women and elderly, have died due to the Israeli siege on the coastal region, since 2007, and after being denied travel permits for medical treatment, and due to the lack of medication and equipment.
At least 769 Palestinian patients have been denied exit from the blockaded Gaza Strip by Israeli authorities, since January 2018.
|“Cancer Patient Dies at Gaza Border Crossing With Israel After Repeated Denial of Medical Permit”|
|Teenage Patient Dies After Israel Denied Him Permit For Urgent Surgery|
The government said that even if the patients’ illness is fatal, and Gaza hospitals cannot treat them; they will still be denied access to Israeli and Palestinian hospitals in the country, especially in occupied Jerusalem.
It informed the High Court of its decision after seven women from Gaza filed an appeal after being forbidden from leaving the Gaza Strip for several months, although they had referrals to hospitals in occupied Jerusalem.
Israeli Supreme Court Justice Uzi Vogelman said the decision to ban the patients from entering the country is “based on assessments,” if the patients are deemed to pose a security risk.
It is worth mentioning that a similar decision was made in 2017, in order to impose further pressure on Hamas, by denying the patients access to life-saving treatment.
Hundreds of patients from the Gaza Strip, including children, women and elderly, have died due to the Israeli siege on the coastal region, since 2007, and after being denied travel permits for medical treatment, and due to the lack of medication and equipment.
At least 769 Palestinian patients have been denied exit from the blockaded Gaza Strip by Israeli authorities, since January 2018.
|“Cancer Patient Dies at Gaza Border Crossing With Israel After Repeated Denial of Medical Permit”|
|Teenage Patient Dies After Israel Denied Him Permit For Urgent Surgery|
20 aug 2018
UN funding crisis for Gaza could force 250 health, water and sanitation facilities to shut down for lack of fuel, UN Humanitarian Coordinator Jamie McGoldrick warned on Monday.
“Life-saving services in the Gaza Strip rely heavily on donor-funded emergency fuel,” McGoldrick said. “We have now run out of funds and are delivering the final supplies in the next few days. Without funds to enable ongoing deliveries, service providers will be forced to suspend, or heavily reduce, operations from early September, with potentially grave consequences.”
Those facilities had been on the verge of shutting down as Israel had halted the flow of gas and fuel into Gaza through the Kerem Abu Salem crossing from August 1 to August 14.
Among those in danger are 4,800 Palestinians in intensive care units. Medical services for the rest of the population will be reduced or stopped altogether.
“If donors intervene quickly, we can prevent a serious deterioration, such as a disease outbreak or other public health concern,” said McGoldrick. “But we need funding immediately to avoid the collapse of critical life-saving services.”
Gaza subsists on only four or five hours of electricity a day, so essential services rely heavily on back-up generators which run on fuel.
Lack of water and sanitation facilities could also contribute to the outbreak of disease in the densely-populated enclave.
McGoldrick’s warning followed a number of other pleas the UN has made this summer for funding, particularly in light of the US decision to drastically reduce its funding to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA).
“Life-saving services in the Gaza Strip rely heavily on donor-funded emergency fuel,” McGoldrick said. “We have now run out of funds and are delivering the final supplies in the next few days. Without funds to enable ongoing deliveries, service providers will be forced to suspend, or heavily reduce, operations from early September, with potentially grave consequences.”
Those facilities had been on the verge of shutting down as Israel had halted the flow of gas and fuel into Gaza through the Kerem Abu Salem crossing from August 1 to August 14.
Among those in danger are 4,800 Palestinians in intensive care units. Medical services for the rest of the population will be reduced or stopped altogether.
“If donors intervene quickly, we can prevent a serious deterioration, such as a disease outbreak or other public health concern,” said McGoldrick. “But we need funding immediately to avoid the collapse of critical life-saving services.”
Gaza subsists on only four or five hours of electricity a day, so essential services rely heavily on back-up generators which run on fuel.
Lack of water and sanitation facilities could also contribute to the outbreak of disease in the densely-populated enclave.
McGoldrick’s warning followed a number of other pleas the UN has made this summer for funding, particularly in light of the US decision to drastically reduce its funding to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA).
