Ambulance service in Gaza stops due to fuel supplies cut

Sunday February 17, 2008 19:53 by Rami Almeghari - IMEMC & Agencies

The ambulance service in the Gaza Strip announced complete halt of it work on Sunday, due to what the health ministry says a 'severe shortage of fuel', a statement by the ministry read.

Illustration Photo

" Most of the ambulances that belong to the ministry have stopped working due to the sharp shortage of fuel", explained the statement.

The Hamas-run ministry announced that the fuel crisis has been steadily increasing over the past few weeks, with Israel further limiting entry of fuel shipments to the coastal territory.

The ministry also warned of more Palestinian casualties in the shadow of the frequent Israeli attacks on the coastal Strip recently.

Medical officials at the Abu Yousef aL-Najjar hospital in Rafah city, voiced concern today over the shortage of working ambulances as the Israeli army was attacking the eastern parts of the city.

Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister, Ehud Olmert, declared that the fuel supplies cut to the Gaza Strip will remain in effect, with more cuts to take place in the upcoming period.

In January17, Israel declared a total closure of the Hamas-ruled territory and imposed further cuts of fuel and essential supplies to Gaza's 1.5 million residents.

In September of last year, the Israeli government considered Gaza a 'hostile entity',
and began in October imposing a series of punitive measures, including fuel supplies cut, in what Israel claims ' a bid to end homemade shells fire onto Israeli areas'.

gaza strip | israeli attacks | news report rami at imemc dot org