Doctors reaching in the dark:
New electricity cuts seriously deteriorate health situation in Gaza Strip

Ramallah, 10 November 2008

The health situation in Gaza is seriously at risk. Doctors in Gaza Strip are increasingly struggling to keep up their work as they are facing repetitive power cuts rendering their work close to impossible. Last night, the Gaza Strip was in the dark again, as Israel prevented fuel from entering the Strip.

Earlier this week, Israel closed all the crossings into Gaza and stopped the fuel supply, including industrial fuel. The power cut occurred as the Nahl Oz checkpoint -the entry point for any liquid fuel in Gaza- has been running at only 40% of its regular capacity for almost a week.

The Gaza power station shut down one unit out of three on Sunday and if the crossings are not soon reopened and the fuel supply not renewed, the second and the third unit will shut down, plunging Gaza into complete darkness.

The shortage of electricity has serious consequences not only on the daily living conditions of the Gazan population, but the functioning of health institutions is at great risk too. The lack of electricity in hospitals has all-encompassing consequences: life-saving equipment cannot be operated, the hygiene standards will deteriorate rapidly with no laundry services, and there will be no lighting or heating. The health services in Gaza have been under immense strain since the beginning of the Israeli siege due to unreliable power supplies, border closures severely limiting the amount of medicines and spare parts available in the Strip, and the restrictions on movement of Gazan patients to outside treatment.  The inability to have a well-functioning health sector will result in a deterioration of the overall health status, and to the population suffering and even dying from illnesses that could otherwise be treated (such as chronic health diseases).

PMRS calls on the Israeli government to end the siege on Gaza and ease the life of the million and a half of Gazans who have seen their living conditions deteriorate considerably for the last year and a half. We also call on our fellow humanitarian organizations to continue working with us to provide medical care to the Gazans who need it so urgently. Immediate action should be taken to bring back some light to the doctors operating in Gaza to help them prevent people, including children, from dying, and alleviate prolonged suffering.