Gaza power station
Photo: AFP
Palestinians warn Gaza blackout imminent
Officials say lack of fuel will cause Gaza's power station to stop function from Wednesday, causing collapse of medical, sanitation systems
Sources in Gaza warned of the total collapse of all electricity, medical, sanitation, drainage, and other power-related systems in the Strip due to an extreme shortage of fuel. In addition, the Palestinian Energy Authority (PEA) said that the Palestinian power station would cease to function as of Wednesday.
Jamal al-Khoudary, chairman of the Stop the Siege on Gaza Campaign warned that the systems have been on the verge of total collapse due to the lack of diesel during the last 13 days, since the terror attack on the fuel terminal at Nahal Oz,
during which two Israeli citizens were killed, and which caused the government to stop the transfer of fuel to the Strip.
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According to Khoudary, the lack of fuel supply has paralyzed daily life in Gaza, bringing 90% of private and public transportation to a grinding halt.
On Tuesday the Palestinian parliament members in Gaza began a hunger strike, in protest of the siege on the Strip. In addition, Gaza's power station, which supplies half of Gaza City's electricity and one third of the electricity used by the entire Gaza Strip, is scheduled to stop working Wednesday due to the fuel shortage.
Hamas offices warned of an impending humanitarian crisis in Gaza. According to Hamas spokespeople, only 70 trucks carrying basic necessities into Gaza have been allowed through in recent days, when previously 100 trucks were permitted to cross the border daily. They warned that this would eventually cause a shortage in basic necessary products in Gaza.
Gaza on Tuesday. (Photo: AFP)
The Palestinian Health Ministry and human rights organizations operating in the Strip said that medical services have also been dealt a blow, which could worsen if the lack of fuel continues. The ministry said that medical evacuations have been harmed recently due to a lack of fuel available for ambulances.
The health ministry also warned against the build up of sewage due to the malfunction of drainage systems, which could cause more illness and add to the present distress. The lack of fuel also prevents doctors and medical crews from arriving to work at the hospitals, the ministry added.
Following the attack on Nahal Oz, fuel supplies to Gaza were halted for a few days, but the supply to Gaza's power station was later renewed, as well as the supply of cooking gas. After a few days supplies were halted once again, following the attack on Kerem Shalom crossing.
