Sunday, January 20, 2008

European hospital in Gaza halts surgeries after electricity blackout


"KHAN YOUNIS, (PIC)-- The European Gaza hospital announced on Sunday that it was forced to halt all surgeries and warned of a health disaster in Gaza if the electricity blackout persisted.

Kamal Abu Mousa, the hospital's public relations manager, said that the hospital administration was compelled to halt surgeries until the situation improved.

The Gaza emergency authority had said that the sole electricity generation in Gaza would come to a complete standstill by Sunday evening due to Israeli interruption of fuel supplies.

Kenan Obaid, the authority's chairman, told a press conference that the power interruption would mean that 70% of Gaza city would lack electricity and 50% of the entire Strip.

Obaid warned of a human catastrophe as a result, noting that lack of enough electricity meant inability to supply power to hospitals, clinics, water wells and sewage stations.

He appealed to the world community, the Arab countries, the Red Cross, UNRWA, UN, EU and all international organizations to immediately intervene to lift the siege and closure and to resume fuel supplies.
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