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Oxfam demands opening of crossings as fuel crisis threatens health, water, sewage systems


"What we are witnessing now with the fuel crisis in Gaza proves that the tunnels are not a sustainable solution to the blockade. The government of Israel's near ban on fuel for private sale has only worsened this crisis and made everyday people less able to cope. If we want to solve the electricity crisis once and for all we need a full and consistent opening of all of Gaza's crossings in accordance with international law," said Catherine Essoyan, Regional Director of Oxfam....

...The Ministry of Health in Gaza warned on 15 February that the health situation was reaching catastrophic proportions in hospitals, where fuel to run generators was running out. Reportedly 72% of emergency fuel stocks for all of Gaza's hospitals had already run out. More than 400 kidney dialysis patients were mentioned as the most at risk right now, given that their treatment requires machines that need to run on electricity for long hours.

The water and sanitation front is also facing widespread disasters, with high risk of sewage flooding in the streets and interrupted water supplies.

Oxfam partner Coastal Municipalities Water Utility (CMWU) estimates that with only 80,000 lires of fuel remaining in its stock, it can only power its 180 generators for the next seven days. CMWU's facilities include 190 water wells, 40 main sewage pumping stations, 15 districts pump stations, four wastewater treatment plants, eight desalination units, and 10 water lifting stations.

CMWU warned on 15 February that the power cuts can result in more than a 50% drop in water supply to households with the possibility of creating a public health risk. Water from desalination units is facing a 60% drop while wastewater pumping stations face sewage overflows. In Gaza City, CMWU says that the one main station pumping up to 40% of all the city's wastewater is at risk of total collapse due to the power and fuel shortage.

The water and sanitation cluster in Gaza is also warning of the high risk of flooding and destruction of sewage lagoons which have already claimed lives of dozens of Palestinians drowning in them. The latest victim was 10-year-old Ahmed Al Zein who drowned in a sewage basin in Beit Lahia on 11 February. The Bedouin Village next to this basin was flooded in March 2007, killing five Palestinians and injuring another 20, damaging houses and public facilities. And last December, two siblings aged 5 and 2 drowned in a sewage basin near Khan Younis refugee camp. more

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