‘We’re in need of all the things’

Israel and Palestinian Islamic Jihad have been firing rockets at one another for 4 days now. Particularly on the Palestinian facet, the variety of casualties continues to rise. That whereas the hospitals within the Gaza Strip are dealing with main shortages.

“We’re in need of all the things. For instance, we’re in need of medicines and medical gadgets. That has been an issue for a very long time. We do our greatest with what we do have, however with each warfare it’s much more tough,” says Jamal Al -Harzeen, head of the emergency division at Al-Shifa Hospital. It’s the largest hospital within the Gaza Strip.

Since Hamas got here to energy within the Gaza Strip, Israel and Egypt have imposed a blockade of the world. In accordance with the 2 international locations, the blockade is a safety measure. They need to management what’s imported, to forestall militant teams from utilizing supplies for army functions.

At instances when rockets are fired forwards and backwards, the border crossings are utterly locked. That can also be the case now.

“Due to the blockade, we now have had a scarcity for years. However exactly when there’s a warfare, we want extra provides due to the various injured. And we can’t, for instance, merely order and convey medical gadgets right here,” says Al-Harzeen.

Now that the border crossings have been utterly closed for a number of days, no extra diesel is equipped to maintain the ability plant working. It’s anticipated that there can be sufficient for a most of 72 hours. New diesel can solely be delivered when the border crossings reopen, however it’s not but clear when that can be.

In the meantime, additional beds have been positioned within the corridors of the hospital to accommodate extra injured folks. However Al-Harzeen is worried about probably even bigger numbers of sufferers: “If much more folks had been injured on the identical time, it could be very tough for us. We merely have restricted sources and subsequently we are able to solely assist a restricted variety of folks. I am actually anxious about.”

Al-Harzeen hopes {that a} ceasefire can be reached quickly, however on the identical time that doesn’t allay his considerations. Diesel can then be equipped once more, however the scarcity of medicines and tools isn’t far-off. “Each warfare, that is one other downside for which there is no such thing as a answer.” As well as, many individuals are skeptical about how lengthy a ceasefire will final this time earlier than the scenario escalates once more.