The situation in the Kamal Adwan Hospital in northern Gaza highlights the severe challenges faced by healthcare facilities amid ongoing conflict. Fuel shortages have become a critical issue, leaving hospitals without the necessary power to operate essential medical equipment and treat patients effectively. Doctors at Kamal Adwan are now relying on mobile phone torches to conduct rounds, as generators have ceased functioning due to the lack of fuel.
The scarcity of fuel is threatening the lives of vulnerable patients, particularly infants in incubators and those in intensive care units, who require continuous electricity for life-supporting equipment. With the hospital unable to take in new patients and forced to ration its limited resources, the risk to patients' lives is escalating.
The broader context of the conflict, which began with Hamas's attack on southern Israel on October 7, has led to widespread displacement and significant loss of life on both sides. Gaza's healthcare system, already strained, is now facing a humanitarian crisis with only 16 hospitals still operational, and all are struggling to function at full capacity due to the ongoing fuel shortages. The situation underscores the dire need for humanitarian assistance and the complex challenges faced by medical professionals in conflict zones.
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