As the Gaza Strip grapples with a pervasive power blackout and continuous Israeli airstrikes, the haunting silence of life-saving machines in hospitals has added to the grim soundscape of the region. These vital machines, powered by generators, are at risk of going silent, spelling dire consequences for countless lives.
The power crisis has pushed Gaza’s hospitals to the brink, exacerbated by the shutdown of the Palestinian territory’s only power station due to Israel’s refusal to allow fuel supplies. Hospitals are now perilously low on fuel reserves, and the situation is dire.
Ahmed Sheikh Ali, who has family members in the hospital, laments, “My brother, two sisters, and parents are slowly fading away right before my eyes, and it’s heart-wrenching that I cannot do anything to save them.”
Ashraf Al Qidra, the spokesperson of the Palestinian Ministry of Health in Gaza, issued a statement, highlighting the dire situation due to Israel’s blockade and refusal to permit fuel into Gaza. He warned of a “huge loss of these lives” if power isn’t restored quickly.
The crisis is most acute in intensive care units, where countless injured individuals depend on electricity-powered oxygen generators to stay alive. The power outage also hampers efforts to provide aid and maintain vital online emergency communication systems across Gaza, intensifying the humanitarian crisis.
Moreover, the loss of power endangers refrigerated food supplies, leaving over two million people in a perilous situation, caught between the terrors of conflict and the hardships of deprivation. Despite efforts to mediate and allow the entry of fuel and medical supplies, the Gaza Power Plant remains inactive, casting a dark shadow over the Strip’s ability to sustain life.
Access to money through ATMs and banks is severely hampered, leaving families disconnected from their loved ones abroad. Journalists, both local and foreign, face challenges in reporting amid power shortages, and staying connected online becomes increasingly difficult.
Ferial Abdo, a Palestinian journalist, emphasizes the impact on journalists: “I cannot continue reporting, and that is not only a problem for me but also for my people. Because if we, as journalists, do not make their voices heard, then the world will not know anything about us.”
Even foreign media outlets operating in Gaza struggle with limited access to essential equipment recharging. Access to fuel and medical supplies remains a critical issue, with the Gaza Power Plant likely to remain inactive until a resolution is reached.
For thousands of families like Sheikh Ali’s, time is running out in an increasingly dire situation in Gaza.
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Source: AlJazeera
