Xinhua, United Nations :
The United Nations said here Wednesday that the Gaza fuel crisis has affected public hospitals, which consume 8,000 liters of diesel a day, with only 20 percent left in reserve.
While addressing a daily news briefing here, UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said elective surgical operations have to be canceled and ambulance travel has to be reduced by 50 percent as a result, citing information from the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).
“The World Health Organization is procuring drugs and disposables for chronic diseases, worth 1.5 million U.S. dollars, but it will take several weeks to start the delivery of these items,” Dujarric said. “Hospitals are suffering from the shortages and have appealed for support from international organizations.”
The last shipment of Qatar-donated diesel-used to fuel the Gaza Strip’s sole power plant-is expected to run out within four or five days, reports said Sunday.
