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Gaza’s medical sector suffers Israeli sanctions, restrictions
Thursday, December 6, 2007 :JERUSALEM/GAZA, 5 December (IRIN) - Health officials in the Gaza Strip say they are concerned about hundreds of patients unable to travel to Israel or other countries for vital treatment, and that local hospitals lack essential medical equipment, drugs and fuel. Only about one in seven patients who used to travel through the Rafah terminal to Egypt for treatment are now able to access medical care in Israel, according to World Health Organization (WHO) statistics.
Since June, when Hamas took over in Gaza, 17 percent of all patients who applied for permits to enter Israel were denied entry, mostly on "security grounds." In October the figure rose to 23 percent.
"There is a trend that it is getting tougher to get out of Gaza for treatment," said Mahmoud Daher of the WHO in Gaza.
Following the Hamas takeover, tight Israeli sanctions were placed on all travel to and from the strip, in addition to restrictions on imports and a near total ban on exports.
"The cases of patients waiting for treatment will just get more difficult," Bassam al-Badri of the referral department at the ministry of health in Gaza, told IRIN. "Some of them will have to have unnecessary amputations. Already some people are in the intensive care unit because they didn't get treated."
At least 13 people who completed the permit application process died in the past two months waiting for treatment, according to health organizations. Another 15 or so died while still applying, according to the Gaza ministry of health.
"There is a trend that it is getting tougher to get out of Gaza for treatment," said Mahmoud Daher of the WHO in Gaza.
Following the Hamas takeover, tight Israeli sanctions were placed on all travel to and from the strip, in addition to restrictions on imports and a near total ban on exports.
"The cases of patients waiting for treatment will just get more difficult," Bassam al-Badri of the referral department at the ministry of health in Gaza, told IRIN. "Some of them will have to have unnecessary amputations. Already some people are in the intensive care unit because they didn't get treated."
At least 13 people who completed the permit application process died in the past two months waiting for treatment, according to health organizations. Another 15 or so died while still applying, according to the Gaza ministry of health.
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PA: Hamas stealing Gaza hospitals' fuel
By Jpost
The Palestinian Authority Health Ministry on Thursday accused Hamas of robbing fuel stockpiles in two hospitals in the Gaza Strip.
A statement published by the ministry claimed that Hamas had been stealing fuel from the European Hospital in the Strip for use in the group's operations.
"The fuel was supplied to hospitals in order to satisfy their needs, in wake of the blockade imposed on Gaza following Hamas's takeover," continued the statement.
For three days, Hamas has been preventing Gaza fuel companies from receiving fuel allocations sent from Ramallah. According to a Palestine Press news agency report, Hamas was stealing fuel and medical supplies sent from the PA Health Ministry in Ramallah to Gaza hospitals.
Reportedly, Hamas had been using the fuel for cars belonging to senior group officials and the medical equipment was being transferred to hospitals under Hamas control.
Last week, the High Court of Justice approved the government decision to cut fuel supplies to the Strip in response to Kassam rocket attacks and gave the state 12 days to provide more details regarding planned electricity cuts.
Gaza gas stations protested the High Court decision and announced that they were refusing to accept from Israel even the amount of fuel allowed because the drastic reduction.
By Jpost
The Palestinian Authority Health Ministry on Thursday accused Hamas of robbing fuel stockpiles in two hospitals in the Gaza Strip.
A statement published by the ministry claimed that Hamas had been stealing fuel from the European Hospital in the Strip for use in the group's operations.
"The fuel was supplied to hospitals in order to satisfy their needs, in wake of the blockade imposed on Gaza following Hamas's takeover," continued the statement.
For three days, Hamas has been preventing Gaza fuel companies from receiving fuel allocations sent from Ramallah. According to a Palestine Press news agency report, Hamas was stealing fuel and medical supplies sent from the PA Health Ministry in Ramallah to Gaza hospitals.
Reportedly, Hamas had been using the fuel for cars belonging to senior group officials and the medical equipment was being transferred to hospitals under Hamas control.
Last week, the High Court of Justice approved the government decision to cut fuel supplies to the Strip in response to Kassam rocket attacks and gave the state 12 days to provide more details regarding planned electricity cuts.
Gaza gas stations protested the High Court decision and announced that they were refusing to accept from Israel even the amount of fuel allowed because the drastic reduction.
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