Tehran, 16 September (H.S.): Another crisis is looming over healthcare services in Gaza. According to Dr Munir Al-Bursh, Director-General of Gaza’s Ministry of Health, the World Health Organization (WHO) may stop supplying diesel to more than 20 hospitals and health centres in Gaza from September 19 due to a shortage of funding.

According to Iran’s semi-official Mehr News Agency, Al-Bursh warned in a video message posted on the social media platform X that any disruption to fuel supplies could place further strain on Gaza’s already severely affected healthcare system. He said the limited fuel currently available is barely sufficient to keep health facilities operational.

Al-Bursh said the impact of a halt in diesel supplies would extend beyond hospital generators. According to him, operating theatres, intensive care units (ICUs), ventilators and oxygen systems could also be affected. He warned that the lives of newborn babies in incubators, dialysis patients, injured people and critically ill patients could be placed at risk.

He further cautioned that ambulance services could be disrupted and that the cold-chain systems required for medicines and vaccines could also be affected.

The Gaza Ministry of Health official appealed to the WHO, donors and the international community to take immediate steps to prevent the reported decision. Expressing serious concern over the fuel crisis, Al-Bursh said that the lack of essential fuel supplies to hospitals and health centres could expose patients to life-threatening situations that could otherwise be prevented.

However, the WHO had not issued any immediate official response to the claim or to the reported decision to halt diesel supplies from September 19.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar