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WHO concerned over health impact of evolving fuel crisis in Gaza
21 January 2019, Gaza - The World Health Organization is concerned over the potential impact the evolving fuel crisis in Gaza might have on the lives and health of patients whose treatment requires uninterrupted power supply if no immediate solution to address the aggravating shortages is found.
The functionality of Gaza’s 14 public hospitals is increasingly jeopardized by electricity shortages and the rapidly declining UN coordinated fuel reserves required to run emergency generators during prolonged electricity cuts from the main grid.
Several of the most severely impacted hospitals have already put rationalization measures in place and suspended sterilization, diagnostic imaging, cleaning, laundry and catering services during cut-off hours. Elective surgeries have been further reduced and drastic service reductions, including closures of wards and hospitals, are imminent, doctors and nurses in Gaza are warning.
Hundreds of patients, including newborn and children, whose life depends on the availability of dialysis services, incubators and ventilators in intensive care units, and other electrical life-sustaining devices, and those requiring surgical interventions will be directly affected.
“The acute fuel shortages are rapidly exhausting the last coping capacities of the health system in Gaza, which is struggling with chronic shortages of pharmaceuticals, medical supplies and electricity. Without a quick solution to address the critically low emergency fuel supplies in hospitals, many of the most vulnerable patients will be put at risk. Following our visits to several affected facilities in Gaza to assess the situation firsthand, we call on all parties to de-politicize health and to collectively ensure that lifesaving services are sustained,” said Dr Gerald Rockenschaub, head of WHO office for the West Bank and Gaza.
Current fuel reserves are expected to sustain critical hospital services for only a few more days, depending on the number of hours of electricity cuts.
WHO calls on the local authorities in Gaza and on all parties and stakeholders to meet their responsibilities and to ensure the right to health and sustained access to essential health services for all patients.
For more information, please contact:
Olha Izhyk
WHO Communication Officer
(+972) 547716392
Scaling up mental health emergency response in East Jerusalem
Medical staff from three hospitals in East Jerusalem received WHO training on mental health emergency response. Credit: WHOIn December 2018, the World Health Organization (WHO) in cooperation with the Palestinian Counseling Center (PCC) provided training to 70 medical staff from three general hospitals in East Jerusalem on mental health emergency response. The training was based on the WHO Psychological first aid guide for field workers that reflects the emerging science and international consensus on how to support people in the immediate aftermath of extremely stressful events.
During the training, nurses, general practitioners, social workers and lab technicians from Augusta Victoria Hospital, Saint Joseph Hospital and Al Maqased Hospital discussed ways to deliver psychological first aid, sustain patients and their caregivers’ well-being and support them in coping with mental health issues during emergencies.
Shoushan Franj, who is leading the psychosocial staff team at Augusta Victoria Hospital, says: “The training helped us to understand better how to prioritize the response in emergencies and the role of each department in mental health preparedness. It was also a great opportunity to highlight the importance of social workers at hospitals and the need to integrate mental health support in the treatment processes. Our next step is to draft and finalize an emergency intervention plan on mental health.”
During and after emergencies, people are more likely to suffer from a range of mental health problems. Some may develop new mental disorders after an emergency, while others experience psychological distress. Those with pre-existing mental disorders often need more help than before. Through a series of training workshops, WHO provides capacity building to the health staff across the occupied Palestinian territory to scale up their ability to respond to the mental health problems during emergencies.
The workshops are part of the WHO project funded by the European Union - Building Palestinian resilience: Improving psychosocial and mental health responses to emergency situations. The project addresses critical gaps in the development of mental health services in the occupied Palestinian territory, particularly concerning mental health emergency response.
Related story: Promoting mental health and well-being among students in the West Bank
1.2 million people in the occupied Palestinian territory are in need of humanitarian health assistance
The Central Drug Store of the Ministry of Health in Gaza is experiencing the worst shortage in essential drugs since 2014. Credit: WHOWHO and health partners require US$32 million to address acute health needs of the most vulnerable communities in the occupied Palestinian territory. 1.2 million Palestinians are in need of humanitarian assistance. Without funding for interventions, their health will deteriorate.
The Gaza health system is overburdened with an enormous rise in casualties from the Great March of Return demonstrations near the fence with Israel. Since 30th March 2018, over 25,000 Palestinians were injured and over 250 killed. The Central Drug Store of the Ministry of Health in Gaza is experiencing the worst shortage in essential drugs since 2014. Around 52,000 people - half of whom are children - are in need of mental health and psychosocial support as a result of the ongoing tensions in Gaza.
In the West Bank, physical obstacles, the discriminatory zoning regime, long distances to hospitals and a lack of public transportation are all factors that hamper access to healthcare services for Palestinians. Access to specialized care not available in Gaza and the West Bank is compromised by the requirement to obtain Israeli-issued permits to exit.
“WHO and humanitarian health partners are struggling to address essential health needs of people in the occupied Palestinian territory. We are concerned that without support from the international donor community thousands of Palestinians won’t be able to access life-saving services”, said Dr Gerald Rockenschaub, Head of the WHO office for the West Bank and Gaza.
The health plan for 2019 prioritizes assistance for people in need of life-saving interventions whilst building the resilience of the health system to better cope with acute emergency events. This enables WHO and health partners to provide a targeted and focused response.
The 2019 Humanitarian Response Plan for the occupied Palestinian territory was launched on 17th December 2018. In total, it appeals for US$350 million to provide basic food, protection, health care, shelter, water and sanitation to address the priority needs of the most vulnerable Palestinian communities.
More information: Humanitarian Response Plan 2019
WHO delivers surgical supplies to meet the needs in the occupied Palestinian territory
WHO delivers trauma and surgical kits to the Palestinian Ministry of Health. Credit: WHO 14 December 2018 - The World Health Organization (WHO) delivered 10 trauma and five surgical kits to the Palestinian Ministry of Health sufficient to provide up to 2000 surgical interventions. The donation was possible thanks to financial support from the Russian Federation.
The Ministry of Health dispatched the trauma kits to the Gaza Strip where the massive number of injured patients is overwhelming an already overburdened health system.
“The Russian Federation has been providing continuous humanitarian support to the occupied Palestinian territory. The donation of the trauma supplies to WHO is necessitated by the mass influx of casualties in the Gaza Strip,” said Mr Aydar Aganin, Head of the Office of the Russian Federation Representation to the Palestinian National Authority.
Since 30 March, over 250 Palestinians were killed and over 25 000 injured during demonstrations along the fence with Israel. Around half of them received needed health care at the trauma stabilization points supported by WHO and discharged. Still, over 13 000 were transferred to Ministry of Health and nongovernmental organization hospitals for treatment. Often, treatment is postponed due to a lack of medicines and medical equipment. Many required interventions are not short term. At least 700 patients with complex gunshot injuries will require long term limb reconstruction with multiple surgeries and extensive rehabilitation for up to two years.
“Shortages of medicines and medical equipment are a daily reality in Gaza. WHO and humanitarian health partners are struggling to fill chronic gaps of essential medical supplies. We are grateful to the Russian Federation for their generous contribution that will help to address health needs of patients requiring surgery”, said Dr Gerald Rockenschaub, Head of the WHO Office for the West Bank and Gaza.
In October, the Central Drug Store of the Ministry of Health in Gaza reported 47% of essential medicines and 30% of essential medical disposables had less than a month’s supply remaining, with 44% of essential medicines completely depleted.
In the occupied Palestinian territory, WHO and health partners support the provision of life-saving drugs and medical supplies to ensure sustainability of essential health services in the public hospitals’ emergency departments with generous donations from donors. From 30 March until 31 December 2018, US$ 41.5 million is required by humanitarian health partners to respond to the acute health needs in Gaza; 70% was received, leaving a gap of US$ 13 million.
Read our story on trauma needs in Gaza: Gaza: Waiting for treatment
