On Monday (23 October), the World Health Organization (WHO) said it had sent medicines and health supplies to four hospitals in southern Gaza and to the Palestinian Red Crescent Society.
However, the need is great, according to WHO emergency officer at Egypt’s Rafah crossing, Husam Abuolwan. “We expect more because the needs in Gaza are so great. We hope to keep these borders open to save lives,” he commented.
Dr. Biyan Al-Fara is in charge of the warehouse at one of the hospitals in Gaza, the Nasser Medical Complex. He stated that the supplies reaching the enclave were not enough to meet demand.
“Today we received a lot of equipment from the World Health Organization which is mainly related to the anesthesia and surgery departments, and this amount compared to the number of injured people and the number of patients is not enough. “We hope that God willing, this number can be increased so that we can continue to provide services to patients,” he explained.
At a hospital in Gaza, the director of the Nasser Medical Complex, Dr. Nahed Ubu Taima, said fuel supply is now very important because with total power outages, the hospital is dependent on generators.
“Health institutions in the Gaza Strip rely heavily on electric generators to generate electricity and operate necessary equipment for patients and injured people. “Now there is a total power outage, and we are very dependent on electricity generators,” Nahed said.
Dr. Taima added that the safety of patients in intensive care installations mainly depends on the availability of electricity. “As everyone knows, intensive care and surgical installations operate all equipment with electricity, and if the fuel runs out, we will expose patients in intensive care installations to inevitable death,” he explained.
Delivery of humanitarian aid through Rafah began on Saturday (21 October) after disputes over aid inspection procedures and bombardment on the Gaza side of the border had left aid materials stranded in Egypt. (lt/ka)