Gaza Herald – Al-Awda Medical Complex in central Gaza halted all health services early Thursday after running out of diesel fuel, forcing the shutdown of generators that power life-saving departments. The closure underscored the growing collapse of Gaza’s health system under Israel’s continued blockade and restrictions.
In a brief statement, the hospital said the suspension was beyond its control, confirming that Al-Awda Hospital in Nuseirat could no longer operate without fuel. The facility had warned for weeks that dwindling supplies would soon push it into total paralysis.
Hospital director Raafat Al-Majdalawi said Al-Awda’s facilities had operated under extreme conditions since October 2023, facing chronic shortages of funding, staff, medicines, and fuel. He noted that despite strict rationing for more than two years, remaining diesel stocks had fallen to about 800 liters, far below the daily minimum need of 2,600 liters.
The shutdown immediately cut medical care for nearly 3,000 patients per day, suspended scheduled surgeries, and halted emergency, maternity, and pediatric services, including care for around 60 births daily. Entire departments were forced offline as generators fell silent.
Health officials appealed for urgent national, humanitarian, and UN intervention to supply fuel, warning that Al-Awda is a cornerstone of Gaza’s fragile healthcare network. Without immediate action, they said, fuel deprivation will continue to be used as a weapon, putting thousands of civilian lives at imminent risk.
