Gaza Power Station Shut Down For Fuel Shortage

Wednesday February 15, 2012 15:25 by George Rishmawi - IMEMC & Agencies

The Gaza Strip's only power station, which supplies the Palestinian coastal region with up to two-thirds of its energy was shut down on Tuesday because of a shortage of fuel from Egypt.

The shortage led to widespread blackouts for nearly 1.5 million Palestinians who live in Gaza. The local power company warned that households would receive only six hours of electricity a day until the problem was resolved.

Gaza's Energy Authority said "measures taken" on the Egyptian side of the border meant not enough fuel was entering the territory, however did not provide further details.

Hospitals, water supply stations and sewage water processing stations will seriously suffer from this blackout which can be life threatening to hundreds of patients in Gaza hospitals.

gaza strip | human rights | news report george at imemc dot org