Babies in Gaza's Incubators Could Die at Any Moment Without Electricity, Red Cross Spokeswoman Says
© AP Photo / Fatima Shbair
Subscribe
In response to the Hamas militants' attack against Israel on October 7, the country launched retaliatory strikes on targets in the Gaza Strip, including civilian ones. Among civil infrastructure facilities that have been subjected to Israeli airstrikes, there are the Al-Quds and Shifa Hospitals in Gaza.
The humanitarian aid delivered to Gaza is insufficient to cover basic humanitarian needs and babies in Gaza's incubators could die at any moment without electricity, Spokesperson of the Red Cross in the Middle East Iman al-Tarablusi told Sputnik.
"The help delivered is, of course, good, but it is very little to meet the existing needs, which are increasing every day. Since our last conversation [October 24], the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip has deteriorated significantly. Healthcare is on the verge of total collapse due to catastrophic fuel and energy shortages. Without electricity, hospitals will completely cease their work, babies in incubators can die at any moment," she said.
The spokeswoman added that it is necessary to establish permanent supplies of humanitarian aid to meet the needs of the people in the conflict zone.
"In similar situations, the responsibility for providing the population with necessities lies on the shoulders of the parties involved in the conflict. We need to work on establishing permanent supplies of humanitarian aid in accordance with the huge scale of the needs of the Palestinian population," al-Tarablusi noted.
Speaking about the humanitarian aid delivered by the Red Cross to Gaza, the official underscored that, in three days, at least 60 tons of the aid were provided by the organization, along with this, a team of military surgeons, water purification specialists, experts on environmental pollution were brought to region by the Red Cross.
"In three days, from last Friday to Sunday, the International Committee of the Red Cross managed to deliver 60 tons of humanitarian aid to Gaza, including medical supplies and water filters. The Red Cross managed to bring a team of military surgeons and water purification specialists, as well as experts on environmental pollution with toxins and heavy metals from weapons," al-Tarablusi stressed.
According to the official, many children and elderly people have found safety near hospitals, such as the Al-Quds Hospital, and thousands of refugees have taken shelter there. However, the Israeli authorities are insisting that the hospital be evacuated as soon as possible, she highlighted.
"If an evacuation order is given, you need to take responsibility for the consequences. Where should all the people who are located near the hospital go? Where should patients be transferred if all hospitals in the region are already overloaded?" the official emphasized.
In addition, al-Tarablusi underlined that people in Gaza "are under stress" as they do not feel themselves safe in Gaza and "are in constant search" of necessities.
"Hundreds of thousands of families who fled their homes were in a very dangerous situation. They are in constant search of livelihood, clean water, food, medicines and safe housing. And since there are no safe places in Gaza, all people are under stress," she emphasized.
On October 7, Palestinian group Hamas launched a surprise large-scale rocket attack against Israel from the Gaza Strip and breached the border, killing and abducting people in neighboring Israeli communities. Israel launched retaliatory strikes and ordered a complete blockade of the Gaza Strip, home to more than 2 million people, cutting off supplies of water, food, and fuel. On October 27, Israel launched a large scale ground incursion inside the Gaza Strip to eliminate Hamas fighters and rescue the hostages.
On Friday, a Sputnik correspondent reported, citing an eyewitness, that an Israeli drone attacked the Shifa hospital in the Gaza Strip. Moroever, an airstrike in the area of the Al-Quds Hospital in the region has left 21 people injured, with many more suffering bruises, the Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRSC) said.
The escalation of the conflict has reportedly resulted in the deaths of more than 10,000 people in Israel and Palestine.
