Gaza Herald – Medical sources revealed on Sunday that the World Health Organization informed more than 20 hospitals and health centers in the Gaza Strip about the cessation of diesel supplies starting from September 19. This notification marks a critical turning point for the region’s remaining healthcare infrastructure, which relies heavily on these fuel shipments to maintain essential operations.
Mohammed Abu Afash, head of the Medical Relief Society in the Gaza Strip, stated in an exclusive statement to Wafa news agency that the organization officially notified more than 13 hospitals and seven health centers. He confirmed that the decision involves stopping the supply of diesel required to run departments and electrical generators within these facilities.
Abu Afash explained that the World Health Organization cited a lack of funding as the reason for this decision, which is set to take effect on September 19. He emphasized that this move threatens a complete paralysis of the targeted health institutions. The affected facilities include Al-Ahli Arab Hospital (Al-Ma’marani), Al-Sahaba Hospital, Friends of the Patient Hospital, and the General Service Hospital.
The Medical Relief Society also operates several centers among those impacted. These institutions provide free medical and therapeutic services to residents, relying entirely on fuel grants provided by the World Health Organization. Abu Afash warned that stopping supplies would double the suffering of citizens, potentially forcing facilities to charge patients if they attempt to purchase fuel at exorbitant market prices.
He noted that this halt occurs amid severe scarcity in the local market, meaning a total stoppage of important life-related services. This development signals a disability for the civil and volunteer health system while the Ministry of Health struggles to bear additional burdens due to depleted capacities and acute shortages of medicines and basic medical supplies.
Abu Afash called on the World Health Organization to fulfill its ethical and humanitarian responsibilities. He urged the organization to immediately reverse this decision and not stop diesel supplies under any pretext, aiming to prevent the collapse of the already fragile health sector.
This decision comes as the Gaza health sector faces systematic dismantling due to continued aggression and blockade. Medical facilities are enduring a severe diesel crisis and continuous strangulation of energy, treatment, and operational oil supplies. The situation has escalated with strict restrictions imposed by occupation authorities on the entry of trucks and humanitarian aid.
This report was produced in the Gaza Herald newsroom.
