Crisis in Gaza as hospitals struggle to cope with dwindling supplies 

Date: 19 / 06 / 2007 Time: 22:09

Bethlehem - Ma'an - 

International aid agencies have been expressing concern about an impending humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip following Hamas' military takeover last week and the closure of all the Strip's crossings with the outside world.

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) said on 15 June that it was most concerned about the medical facilities in the Strip that are overwhelmed with wounded patients.

"Hospitals, with the exception of Beit Hanoun and the Al-Quds hospital in Gaza City, are functioning, but their resources are stretched by the large number of patients wounded in the past week's fighting coupled with the fatigue of hospital staff who have been working around the clock", said Eileen Daly, the ICRC's medical coordinator for the West Bank and Gaza. "The surgeons are overwhelmed with wounded patients, and some hospitals are reporting blood shortages", she added.

Based on figures provided by hospitals and emergency services on 15 June, the ICRC estimated that over 550 people were wounded and at least 116 killed in the fighting of the previous week.

The ICRC also reported that some hospital staff were on duty for four straight days because their fellow colleagues could not get to work.

In response to the crisis, various agencies have stepped in to stem the humanitarian catastrophe.

The United Arab Emirates' Red Crescent Authority announced on 17 June a new humanitarian relief operation worth around US$240,000, to be carried out in collaboration with the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in Gaza.

The emergency operation will distribute around 6000 packages of food aid to impoverished food-insecure families and individuals, said acting secretary-general of the UAE Red Crescent Authority Saleh Mohammed Al Mulla.

The environmental aid agency, 'Friends of the Earth Middle East', has also warned of an impending sanitation crisis in Gaza as a result of the lack of gas to pump out the strip's sewage, following Israel's decision to cut of the gas supplies.

"If indeed the pumps cease to work, raw sewage will flow into the Mediterranean Sea or will pile up untreated," FoEME warned in a press release. "In addition, without fuel for trucks, garbage removal for cities in the Gaza Strip will not be possible either."

The consequences could include "the outbreak of diseases and infectious illnesses, coupled with the loss of an already reduced water source as a result of pollution," the press release continued.

“Collapse of the sewage system during the summer months could be a real catastrophe. Diseases associated with water are the number one cause for child mortality in the world”, says Zacharya Tagar, Deputy Director of Friends of the Earth Middle East.

“Outbreak of diseases and illnesses would compound the humanitarian crisis taking place in front of our eyes. Even if Israel is not to blame for the events taking place in the Gaza strip, it is possible to contain the humanitarian and environmental crisis by preventing rash acts, such as cutting off fuel supplies”.

Elena Qleibo, a program officer for the international aid agency Oxfam in Gaza said in a press release: "Israel must open the borders to allow food, fuel and medical supplies to enter Gaza. Doctors have told me they are already running short of basic medical supplies like syringes and gloves. Shops are running short of food. Unless Israel allows humanitarian access, Oxfam and other agencies will not be able to provide urgently needed supplies."

The lack of medical supplies means hospitals are only dealing with emergency cases, doctors in Gaza and UN agencies have reported.

 

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