Gaza hospitals ration electricity amid fuel and oil shortages

Fuel and engine‑oil shortages are compelling hospitals across the Gaza Strip to curtail their electricity use, according to health officials and humanitarian agencies monitoring the enclave’s medical sector. With the majority of health facilities dependent on diesel‑powered generators, the scarcity of fuel and lubricants has forced administrators to implement rotating power schedules, limiting the operation of intensive‑care units, operating theatres and refrigeration for medicines.

The shortages stem from restrictions on the entry of fuel and related supplies, damage to storage infrastructure and a slowdown in deliveries from neighboring countries. The World Health Organization has warned that prolonged rationing could jeopardize critical treatments and increase mortality rates among patients requiring continuous care. International aid groups have appealed for the immediate resumption of fuel shipments to sustain hospital operations and prevent further deterioration of health services in Gaza.