By In the midst of the ongoing crisis in Gaza, the Turkish-Palestinian Friendship Hospital, the sole oncology hospital in the region, is teetering on the brink of closure. This dire situation has been exacerbated by the recent conflict and an extended blockade.
Dr. Subhi Sukeyk, the hospital’s director, has sounded the alarm about the facility’s dwindling fuel supplies, which are vital for running essential services and chemotherapy treatments.
Gaza’s healthcare system is in a state of emergency due to the conflict. The Israeli blockade, in effect since October 7, has prevented the entry of vital resources, including fuel, water, and medical supplies.
Gaza relies on Israeli power lines for electricity, and with the supply cut, the region’s electricity has been severely impacted. Even the power plant, which depends on fuel imported from Israel, had to shut down, leading to a healthcare crisis.
The Turkish-Palestinian Friendship Hospital, which had been operating with a single local generator, is also facing a fuel shortage that may lead to a complete shutdown. This would jeopardize the lives of hundreds of cancer patients who require consistent and timely treatment.
Dr. Sukeyk emphasized the critical need for electricity in the intensive care unit and for operating oxygen machines.
The situation is dire, as Gaza has more than 9,000 cancer patients, according to Gaza’s health ministry. With the hospital’s closure looming, many patients will be left without access to essential cancer care.
Normally, Palestinian health authorities refer around 2,000 patients from Gaza to hospitals outside the Strip, particularly in Jerusalem, the West Bank, and Israel. However, the recent total siege has halted this process. The combination of a high number of injured patients and a lack of essential resources has pushed Gaza’s hospitals to the brink of collapse.
After a meeting between Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and United States President Joe Biden, Israel announced that it would permit the entry of food, water, and medicine into Gaza through the Rafah crossing with Egypt. However, this announcement did not address the need for fuel to power Gaza’s hospitals.
As hospitals in Gaza struggle to operate without sufficient fuel and other critical resources, time is running out. The Turkish-Palestinian Friendship Hospital, along with other healthcare facilities in the region, faces the daunting challenge of continuing to provide care amid the ongoing crisis.
The international community is closely watching, hoping that a solution can be found to ensure that the most vulnerable patients receive the care they urgently need.
