Gaza’s hospitals failing as Israel cuts off supplies
Israeli military creating ‘devastating, complex situation’ in Rafah
Hamish Young, senior emergency coordinator in Gaza for UNICEF, described the dire situation in Rafah.
“I have been working on large-scale humanitarian emergencies for the best part of the last 30 years and I’ve never been involved in a situation as devastating, complex or erratic as this,” he said.
According to Young, roads to al-Mawasi – the so-called “humanitarian zone” that Israel ordered people from Rafah to go to – are jammed with hundreds of trucks, buses, cars and donkey carts loaded with people and possessions.
“For five days, no fuel and virtually no humanitarian aid entered the Gaza Strip and we are scraping the bottom of the barrel,” he said. “Over 14,000 children have reportedly been killed already – a ground offensive in Rafah will undoubtedly result in this number increasing dramatically.”
Roads to ‘safe zones’ jammed.
No fuel in 5 days, virtually no aid.
No proper sanitation facilities.
“I've never been involved in a situation as devastating, complex or erratic as this.” - Hamish Young, UNICEF Senior Emergency Coordinator, Gaza Strip.https://t.co/zxsUT9ip6I
— UNICEF (@UNICEF) May 10, 2024
Fuel shortage in Gaza – Power from hospital generators threatened
The Al-Aqsa Hospital in Deir el-Balah could be completely shut down due to fuel shortages in the next 24 hours, staff at the medical complex in central Gaza warn.
The closure of crossings into Gaza since Israel started its assault on Rafah this week means fuel has not been delivered for days and life-saving medical care will not be available to Palestinians who need it.
