Gaza hospital warns of humanitarian crisis amid severe power shortages

Mother and child injured in Israeli attack await treatment at Al-Aqsa Hospital. Image UNRWA

Source: Kuwaiti Government News Service

Health authorities in Gaza have warned of a worsening humanitarian and medical crisis at Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital after the facility entered a critical phase, due to severe electricity shortages and the failure of a main backup generator. The Israeli authorities are not allowing replacement parts to enter the territory.

During a press conference of Sunday, the Director of Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital Dr Raed Hussein said the hospital is facing exceptional and dangerous conditions as its operational capacity declines due to repeated malfunctions affecting generators used to supply power to essential departments.

He noted that the remaining backup generators have become severely worn out after operating continuously for more than a year without interruption and are no longer capable of meeting the hospital's minimum daily needs or ensuring the continuity of basic medical services.

Hussein added that the failure of a fourth backup generator has led to near-total paralysis in several vital departments, most notably operating rooms, which have completely ceased functioning, directly affecting medical teams' ability to deal with emergency and critical cases.

He warned that the ongoing electricity crisis threatens to halt other essential services, including dialysis units, neonatal incubators, intensive care units and medical laboratories that rely entirely on electrical power to operate equipment and devices. The hospital director appealed to international organizations, humanitarian institutions and concerned parties to take immediate action to save the health sector in central Gaza.

He also appealed for a direct and sustainable electricity source for the hospital, as well as the urgent entry of new generators and spare parts to avert a humanitarian and health catastrophe.

Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital is the only government hospital in central Gaza and provides medical services to around half a million residents, making it one of the most important healthcare facilities in the area.

Parts of the hospital were destroyed in October 2024, after it was attacked by Israeli warplanes which caused a massive fire. Much of the area surrounding the hospital has been badly damaged by repeated attacks which have caused numerous casualties. The hospital is desperately overcrowded.