GAZA, Nov 17 (KUNA) -- The health ministry of the dismissed Palestinian cabinet on Monday appealed for aid for the main hospitals in the strip.
The ministry said the hospitals were expected to stop functioning very soon after back-up power generators broke down. Israeli authorities have barred entry of the spare parts and oil, necessary for keeping the generators operating, it said in a statement.
The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has been relentlessly seeking to secure entry of the materials since two months ago, the statement added, warning that lives of many patients were at stake due to the looming problem.
-- Meanwhile in Cairo, the Arab Doctors Union warned of a looming "humanitarian catastrophe" in Gaza as a result of the servere shortage of fuel, and said the Gazans would suffer complete blackout quite soon.
The fuel shortage is expected to paralyze operations at hospitals, emergency wards, intensive care units, kidney dialysis units and infants wards.
Toll of those who passed away due to lack of proper care and lack of necessary medications and drugs might increase from the current level of 260 cases.
It called for lifting the Israeli siege, causing enormous hardships and suffering to more than 1.5 million Gazans. (end) zt.rk KUNA 171730 Nov 08NNNN