Gaza hospitals face critical medical oxygen and fuel shortages

Hospitals in Gaza are facing a critical shortage of medical oxygen and fuel, threatening the lives of patients in intensive care, neonatal units, and surgical wards. According to the Gaza Health Ministry, approximately 25 of the territory’s 34 oxygen production stations have been destroyed, leaving only about nine partially functioning units.

At the Nasser Medical Complex in Khan Younis, engineering teams reported that the main oxygen generator failed due to worn parts and a lack of operating oil. While a backup unit is in use, it is operating at limited capacity and faces potential failure. The shortage of essential supplies, including spare parts and engine oils, has forced hospitals to implement austerity measures, such as rotating power cuts between different buildings.

The crisis is compounded by the lack of grid electricity and restrictions on the import of fuel and medical supplies. Doctors warn that the soaring costs of diesel and oil are also making electricity from neighborhood generators unaffordable for many families, extending the energy crisis beyond medical facilities to the general population.