GENEVA, Friday, July 5, 2024 (WAFA) – The World Health Organisation chief Thursday warned that severe fuel shortages in the Gaza Strip could have a "catastrophic" impact on already devastated health services in the war-torn Strip.

"Further disruption to health services is imminent in Gaza due to a severe lack of fuel," WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said on X platform.

He cautioned that only 90,000 litres of fuel entered Gaza on Wednesday - even as the health sector alone needs 80,000 litres daily.

This is forcing WHO and its partners working in Gaza "to make impossible choices", he added.

He pointed out that currently, “partners are directing limited fuel supplies to key hospitals including Nasser Medical Complex, Al-Amal Hospital, and Kuwaiti Field Hospital and to 21 Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS) ambulances, to prevent services from grinding to a halt.”

He stressed the need to reopen Rafah border crossing and ensure a sustained flow of fuel into the Strip.

“We again issue an urgent appeal for the Rafah crossing to be reopened and for a sustained flow of fuel, food, water and medical supplies to be permitted into and across Gaza,” he said.

He cautioned that “with European Gaza Hospital out of service since 2 July, losing more hospitals in the Strip would be catastrophic.”

K.F.