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Gaza hospital forced to suspend most services because of lack of fuel <article data-history-node-id="433124" about="https://www.middleeasteye.net/live-blog/live-blog-update/gaza-hospital-forced-suspend-most-services-because-lack-fuel" class="live-blog-update default clearfix"> <h2> <a href="https://www.middleeasteye.net/live-blog/live-blog-update/gaza-hospital-forced-suspend-most-services-because-lack-fuel" rel="bookmark"> <span class="field field-title">Gaza hospital forced to suspend most services because of lack of fuel</span> </a> </h2> <div class="content"> <div class="field field-field-text"><p>A major hospital in the Gaza Strip said on Friday it had suspended several services because of critical fuel shortages, AFP reported. </p> <p>Ahmed Mehanna, a senior official involved in managing Al-Awda hospital said that most services have been temporarily stopped due to a shortage of the fuel needed for the generators.</p> <p>"Only essential departments remain operational: the emergency unit, maternity ward and paediatrics," he said.</p> <p>He added the hospital has been forced to rent a small generator to keep even those three departments running.</p> <p>Under normal conditions, Al-Awda Hospital consumes between 1,000 and 1,200 litres of diesel per day. At present, however, it has only 800 litres available.</p> <p>"We stress that this shutdown is temporary and linked to the availability of fuel," Mehanna said, warning that a prolonged fuel shortage "would pose a direct threat to the hospital's ability to deliver basic services".</p> <p>The Al-Awda Hospital in central Gaza's Nuseirat district cares for around 60 in-patients and receives nearly 1,000 people seeking medical treatment each day.</p> <p>Khitam Ayada, 30, who has taken refuge in Nuseirat, said she had gone to the facility after days of kidney pain.</p> <p>But "they told me they didn't have electricity to perform an X-ray... and that they couldn't treat me," the displaced woman told AFP.</p> <p>"We lack everything in our lives, even the most basic medical services," she added.</p> <p>Hospital official Mehanna urged local and international organisations to intervene swiftly to ensure a steady fuel supply.</p> <p>Despite a ceasefire being in place since October 10, the Gaza Strip remains engulfed in a severe humanitarian crisis because Israel is not allowing the volume of aid agreed to in the ceasefire (600 trucks per day) to come into the territory.</p> <p>Only 100 to 300 trucks carrying humanitarian assistance can currently enter, according to the United Nations and non-governmental organisations.</p> </div> </div> </article> https://www.middleeasteye.net/live-blog/live-blog-update/gaza-hospital-forced-suspend-most-services-because-lack-fuel