"We need between 1,500 and 1,700 liters of fuel per day to operate the generators, while the available supply does not exceed 1,000 liters, which is barely enough for a few hours," Abu Salmiya told Anadolu Agency.
He added, "We spoke with the World Health Organization and explained to them the seriousness of the situation, which could lead to the complete collapse of hospitals."
Critical hours
Abu Salmiya noted that they were forced to turn off the power to the hospital's dialysis department, saying, "This has left more than 350 patients suffering because we are unable to perform their dialysis sessions."
He continued: "We have only kept the intensive care unit operating, which cannot be shut down for even a minute, and the surgical department, which is barely functioning, despite the daily bombardment we are subjected to."
Abu Salmiya stressed: "We are facing critical times. If we are not supplied with fuel in the coming hours, we will be forced to shut down other departments, which would mean a death sentence for 13 patients in intensive care, dozens of wounded who require urgent surgery, and 17 children in the nursery at Al-Helou International Hospital who face certain death."
He added, "Without electricity, hospitals won't be able to function," stressing, "The moment the generators stop, we will face a real disaster, and hospitals will turn into graveyards instead of places where people are rescued."
Since March 2, Israel has tightly closed Gaza's crossings to trucks carrying supplies and aid, piling up at the border, allowing only a few dozen trucks into the Strip. Palestinians in Gaza need at least 500 trucks per day.
medicine shortage
Abu Salmiya spoke of a severe shortage of medicines, medical supplies, and blood units needed for the wounded, given the significant increase in the number of dead and wounded as a result of the massacres perpetrated by Israel in the Gaza Strip.
He said, "No health system is capable of handling these massive numbers, let alone the Gaza Strip's, particularly Al-Shifa Hospital, which is operating at only 25% of its capacity due to the destruction."
In June, the ministry repeatedly warned of the disruption of its vital services due to the fuel crisis caused by Israel's closure of the crossings and the prevention of the entry of relief aid and goods. On June 25, the Ministry of Health in Gaza warned that hospitals were suffering from severe overcrowding, exceeding their capacity, especially in inpatient and intensive care units, amid an increase in critical injuries that exceeded the capacity of emergency and surgical departments. It stated that only 45 operating rooms out of 312 were operating within limited capacity, unable to perform emergency and complex surgical interventions.
anemia crisis
Abu Salmiya also explained the magnitude of the blood crisis, which has worsened with the escalating number of infections. "Last month, we needed 10,000 units of blood, an unprecedented number that reflects the unprecedented scale of infections," he said.
He also pointed to a serious problem related to the hospital's inability to obtain blood units from Gaza residents due to their suffering from anemia resulting from hunger and malnutrition. He noted that "nine out of 10 people in Gaza suffer from malnutrition and are unable to donate blood, while only one out of ten can receive blood from us."
Abu Salmiya called for an end to the war, describing it as an "urgent humanitarian necessity." He also called for the opening of crossings to allow the entry of equipment and medicine, "because the situation cannot be delayed."
On Wednesday, Israel allowed the entry of very limited quantities of blood and plasma into the Gaza Strip, amounting to approximately 2,900 units, despite intense international pressure, according to Mohammed Saqr, spokesman for the Nasser Medical Complex in Khan Yunis, south of the Strip. Saqr said that this quantity is only sufficient for one week to cover the needs of the Strip's hospitals.
There are 16 partially functioning hospitals in Gaza, including five government hospitals and 11 private hospitals, out of a total of 38, according to the Gaza Ministry of Health. Eight field hospitals also operate in the Strip, providing emergency services amid the ongoing Israeli genocide against Palestinians for more than a year and a half.
Since October 7, 2023, Israel has been waging a war of genocide in Gaza, including killing, starvation, destruction, and forced displacement, ignoring all international calls and orders from the International Court of Justice to halt it.
The genocide, backed by the United States, left approximately 191,000 Palestinians dead and wounded, most of them children and women, and more than 11,000 missing. Hundreds of thousands were displaced, and a famine claimed the lives of many, including dozens of children.
