Gaza Fuel Supplies May Halt Delivery of Aids as Hospitals Become 'Mass Graves'

The primary United Nations agency in Gaza has announced that it will be forced to cease its aid operations within a day if fuel is not promptly delivered.

This unfortunate situation would signify the termination of a crucial lifeline for the civilians in the region, as stated by the organization, as per CNN.

Gaza Hospitals Teeter on Brink as Fuel Shortage Imperils Lives

(Photo : MAHMUD HAMS/AFP via Getty Images)
Patients undergo dialysis at a hospital in Khan Yunis in the southern Gaza Strip on October 24, 2023, amid the ongoing battles between Israel and the Palestinian group Hamas. Thousands of civilians, both Palestinians and Israelis, have died since October 7, 2023, after Palestinian Hamas militants based in the Gaza Strip entered southern Israel in an unprecedented attack triggering a war declared by Israel on Hamas with retaliatory bombings on Gaza.

Gaza's hospitals, already overwhelmed by the influx of casualties, are now facing a catastrophic threat as they cannot run their emergency generators due to the lack of fuel. The consequences of this fuel shortage are dire, with doctors warning that hospitals could become "mass graves" if they cannot power life-saving equipment.

Surgery has become almost impossible, and life support machines and incubators for babies are at risk of shutting down. According to the United Nations, almost a third of Gaza's hospitals have been forced to close either due to damage from airstrikes or a lack of fuel.

The situation is particularly dire at the Shifa Hospital in Gaza City, the largest hospital in the region, where 150 patients are currently on ventilators that would cease to function without electricity.

The prospect of such a scenario is unimaginable, and urgent action is needed to prevent this humanitarian catastrophe. The fuel shortage not only jeopardizes the functioning of hospitals but also hampers the ability of aid organizations to provide essential services to the population.

The United Nations has warned that its operations in Gaza could halt unless fuel is secured for emergency shelters, where 600,000 people have sought refuge. Without power, these shelters cannot provide the necessary support, leaving thousands of people vulnerable and in desperate need of assistance.

The situation has prompted global charities and aid organizations to call for an immediate ceasefire and the provision of further aid to Gaza. UNICEF has reported that Israeli strikes have already claimed the lives of 2,360 children and stressed the need to end the fighting.

Oxfam has highlighted the use of hunger as a weapon of war against Gaza civilians and warned that many more could face starvation unless more excellent aid supplies are allowed into the region, according to AP News.

Israel Warns of Imminent Invasion

The Israeli government has announced preparations for a ground assault to crush Hamas, the militant group controlling Gaza. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has warned of an imminent ground invasion and stated that all Hamas militants are "doomed."

The intensity of the bombardment has already caused significant damage and loss of life, further exacerbating the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. International efforts to address the situation are underway, with calls for an urgent ceasefire and increased aid to Gaza.

Several countries, including Britain, have sent aid to the region, but access has been limited. Israel has imposed tight blockades and has not allowed fuel to be included in the humanitarian supplies.

Aid agencies stress that more than the current trickle of reserves is needed to meet the enormous humanitarian needs of the population. The dire situation in Gaza requires immediate action from the international community. The lives of countless families, women, children, and the sick and injured are at stake.

Humanitarian aid, including fuel, must be allowed to reach Gaza to alleviate the population's suffering. The United Kingdom, along with other countries, is working to enable the delivery of life-saving aid. The plea for assistance extends beyond the provision of necessities.

The healthcare system in Gaza is on the brink of collapse, and the lives of vulnerable individuals, including newborns, hang in the balance. The international community must unite to support the doctors and medical staff working tirelessly to save lives in the face of overwhelming challenges, Mail Online reported.