ActionAid: Gaza's hospitals are at risk as fuels runs out
24 Oct 2023 11:22pm
People engaged in rescue efforts following an Israeli airstrike in the town of Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip on Sunday - Xinhua Photo
"The United Nations has said that the lives of at least 120 newborn babies in incubators, 70 of which are on mechanical ventilation, in Gaza’s hospitals are at risk as fuel runs out. Without this critical support, these babies will die,” Palestinian news agency (WAFA) reported ActionAid said in a statement.
Gaza's hospitals usually serve 1,100 patients with kidney failure, including 38 children, with 13,000 dialysis sessions every month. The Shifa Hospital, the largest in the Gaza Strip, is treating over 5,000 patients, significantly over its capacity of 700 patients and is hosting over 45,000 internally displaced persons.
"This is entirely avoidable,” said ActionAid. "We stand at a critical juncture, where immediate action can make the difference between life and death for thousands of civilians in Gaza. The situation is dire, and the time for action is now.
"We implore individuals, governments, and organisations worldwide to come together and act decisively to address the urgent humanitarian crisis in Gaza - this is about our collective humanity.”
The humanitarian organisation asked all governments and the international community "to do everything in their power to bring about an immediate ceasefire, reverse the evacuation order in Gaza, guarantee the full protection and safety of civilians, and ensure lifesaving humanitarian assistance now’, it added. - BERNAMA
