The International Committee of the Red Cross has warned that the health system in Gaza suffers from a severe shortage of capabilities, which prevents it from dealing with a massive epidemic outbreak such as Covid-19.
The committee confirmed in a statement today, Saturday, that the availability of beds and respirators in the intensive care units in Gaza is only sufficient to treat a small number of critical cases. She said, "Gaza streets are surrounded by silence, which was usually full of movement and activity. A strict closure has been imposed on the Gaza Strip in order to stop the spread of Covid-19 disease, which has gone out of control and started to spread among the population." She added, "The atmosphere in Gaza prevails in a state of extreme fear and frustration despite the resumption of fuel shipments to the Strip this week. The only power station in the Strip has stopped working for two weeks, and the time period for supplying electricity to the population has decreased to four hours per day amid severe high temperatures." Now, this service has been resumed at its "normal" rate, as residents receive electricity for 10-12 hours a day, and this is by no means a sufficient rate by current standards. " She added, "The people of Gaza feel very weak, and the situation is made worse by this viral pandemic that has spread suffering and turmoil all over the world. People fear for their safety and the safety of their loved ones, as they realize that the services they depend on - such as electricity - may stop at any moment." The Red Cross warned against underestimating the mental health consequences of the severe restrictions imposed on movement and trade for 14 years. Today, Saturday, the Palestinian Ministry of Health in the Gaza Strip recorded one death, and 110 cases of Coronavirus, bringing the toll to 807 infections, 6 deaths, and 89 recoveries, since last March. The government in Gaza has imposed a curfew in all areas of the Strip, since last August 24, after the first cases of the virus were discovered in the local community.
