UNRWA Warns of Imminent Shutdown: Gaza Hospitals and Aid Operations Hang in the Balance without Urgent Fuel Deliveries

The United Nations agency for Palestinian refugees has issued a warning that it may have to cease operations across the Gaza Strip if urgent fuel deliveries are not received. In a statement posted on social media, the UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) stated that without immediate fuel supplies, their operations in Gaza will come to a halt. The lack of fuel is a growing concern for aid agencies as it powers essential services such as hospitals, which are currently reliant on generators.

Juliette Touma, the communications director for UNRWA, stressed the urgency of the situation, stating that time is running out and fuel is desperately needed. Unfortunately, six hospitals in Gaza have already been forced to shut down due to the fuel shortage, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). To alleviate some of the crisis, the WHO, with support from UNRWA, delivered limited supplies for ambulances and four hospitals in southern Gaza. However, these supplies will only sustain critical functions for just over 24 hours.

Although the first aid delivery since the outbreak of the conflict between Israel and Gaza's Hamas rulers on October 7th occurred over the weekend, it did not include fuel. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres voiced his concerns at the UN headquarters, stating that the limited aid supplies are merely a drop in the ocean of the region's immense needs. Without fuel, aid cannot be delivered, hospitals will lack electricity, and access to clean drinking water will be severely impaired. The situation in Gaza is dire, and the international community must act swiftly to ensure the delivery of essential fuel supplies. Failure to do so will have catastrophic consequences for the already vulnerable population in this war-torn territory.