Gaza's sole pediatric hospital faces imminent closure over fuel blockade

The only operating pediatric hospital in northern Gaza is at risk of shutting down within hours because generators lack fuel and oil. Hospital Beneficente Amigos dos Pacientes relies on diesel to power incubators and other critical equipment, but Israeli authorities have blocked fuel shipments for months. The last delivery, coordinated by the World Health Organization, arrived two months ago, and the generators now run only ten hours a day, with one unit out of service due to missing lubricant.

Neonatology chief Samer Lubad said the shortage forces the staff to discharge babies early to conserve electricity. Mother Wafaa Nasr Atia Hajah recounted that her daughter nearly died when a power cut prevented use of a nebulizer during a bronchiolitis episode. Hospital administrator Ahmed Ishhada noted that motor oil now costs over $1,000 per barrel, making it unaffordable. Without a reliable power supply, laboratory, radiology, triage and emergency services are intermittently unavailable, endangering newborns and other patients.