Nuseirat Refugee Camp, Gaza Strip – Al-Awda Hospital, located in the central Gaza Strip, is on the verge of ceasing most of its operations today due to a critical fuel shortage. Dr. Raafat Al-Majdalawi, Director-General of the Al-Awda Health and Community Association, confirmed the impending shutdown, highlighting the hospital’s struggle to maintain essential services amidst dwindling fuel supplies.
Like many hospitals in Gaza, Al-Awda has been grappling with a severe fuel crisis since the start of the conflict. Dr. Al-Majdalawi stated that the hospital is facing imminent closure due to what he described as an inequitable distribution of fuel among medical facilities.
Al-Awda Hospital provides crucial surgical, obstetric, pediatric, and emergency services. The hospital requires approximately 2,600 liters of fuel daily to operate effectively. However, according to Dr. Al-Majdalawi, the hospital receives a maximum of only 1,000 liters, far below its operational needs. This discrepancy is placing immense strain on the hospital’s ability to provide adequate care.
Dr. Al-Majdalawi has criticized the current fuel distribution system, alleging that national hospitals receive inadequate fuel supplies, preventing them from stockpiling reserves for emergencies. He further claimed that foreign-run hospitals receive all the fuel they require, creating a disparity in access to essential resources.
“This uneven distribution of fuel is deeply concerning and raises serious questions,” Dr. Al-Majdalawi stated. “It appears to be a deliberate attempt to undermine the operations of local and national hospitals in favor of those managed by international organizations.”
Al-Awda Hospital serves thousands of residents daily. The potential cessation of services could have devastating consequences for the community, particularly given the ongoing conflict and the increased demand for medical care. Certain critical services, such as childbirth, emergency care, trauma treatment, and specialized surgeries, cannot be postponed or scheduled, making the fuel shortage even more dire.
Hospital administrators are currently making efforts to coordinate with other healthcare facilities to transfer some patients. However, these facilities are also facing similar challenges. The situation is expected to worsen in the coming days if the fuel shortage is not addressed immediately. The coming hours are critical, and without a rapid response, the healthcare system in Gaza faces a catastrophic collapse.
