The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) has issued a warning about a critical shortage of oxygen for patients at hospitals in the southern Gaza Strip. According to OCHA, Nasser and Al-Amal hospitals in Khan Younis are facing extreme scarcity of oxygen, compelling them to ration their limited supplies among themselves.
By the end of January, Al-Amal Hospital had exhausted all its oxygen cylinders, and the Palestinian Red Crescent Society managed to deliver only 25 new ones from the Nasser Medical Center. The report from OCHA highlights that the escalating conflict in Khan Younis, coupled with heightened shelling of the IDF and sieges on the city's operational hospitals, has significantly curtailed the medical services available to patients.
The ongoing fighting near Al-Amal Hospital has severely impacted its functionality and accessibility, and Al-Kheir Hospital, a vital facility for maternal and neonatal care, has been forced to shut down entirely.
The situation in the Middle East has worsened since October 7, 2023, when fighters from the Palestinian movement Hamas infiltrated Israeli territory. In response, Israel imposed a total blockade on Gaza, conducted airstrikes within the Strip and adjacent areas of Lebanon and Syria, and later initiated a ground military operation within the enclave. Fightings are also occurring in the West Bank.
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Based on materials from TASS