The Palestinian Health Ministry warned Saturday of the risk of a complete breakdown in oxygen supplies for hospitals and patients in the Gaza Strip, saying the remaining operating stations have been fully exhausted and are working beyond maximum capacity amid worsening technical failures and the inability of maintenance teams to repair them.
In a statement, the ministry said only 12 oxygen stations out of 34 remain operational under extremely complex technical and mechanical conditions, leaving them unable to meet the growing needs of health facilities and service providers.
The ministry’s data showed that only four oxygen cylinder filling devices out of 30 are still operating, while they face the risk of sudden shutdown at any moment because engineering teams have been prevented from completing emergency maintenance work.
The ministry stressed that oxygen is a vital lifeline for critical and life-saving departments, as well as for patients receiving care at home.
It called for the immediate opening of crossings to allow the entry of spare parts and technical equipment, and for the urgent supply of new oxygen stations to prevent an imminent health and humanitarian catastrophe.
