United Nations reports "No fuel in Gaza"

Situation Report from UN-OCHA office, Gaza Strip: There is currently no fuel available in the Gaza Strip on the open market and there are power cuts of three hours per day in almost all of Gaza. For months the fuel crisis has hampered vital humanitarian work, but the complete absence of fuel will dramatically worsen the humanitarian situation.

Key observations:

• Provision of UNRWA's food assistance to 650,000 refugees in Gaza will stop on Thursday.
• 12 municipalities and solid waste management councils have stopped all their operations, affecting at least 500,000 Gazans.
• Ministry of Health hospitals have between 33 and 170 hours of fuel supply. Hospitals managed by NGOs have fuel for less than one week.
• The Central Drug Stores ran out of fuel on 22 April.
• Vaccines for 50,000 babies will be spoiled if power cuts exceed eight hours and will take six months to replace.
• UNRWA Gaza's vehicle fleet will be grounded as of Thursday which will prevent normal operation of UNRWA's 214 schools, 19 health centers and solid waste collection.

View full report from the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.

© Union Aid Abroad - APHEDA 2003.

Last Modified: Saturday, 26-Apr-2008 16:21:09 EST
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