Dwindling Supply Chains Push Hospitals to the Edge
The World Health Organization reports that just 12 of Gaza’s 34 oxygen‑production plants are still working, leaving hospitals scrambling for cylinders. The shortfall has forced doctors to ration life‑saving gas for patients with severe COVID‑19, trauma, and chronic illnesses. The crisis escalated after weeks of power cuts and damage to infrastructure amid ongoing hostilities.
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Israel and Lebanon to Hold Security Talks in Rome This OctoberPower outages, blockades on fuel deliveries, and repeated airstrikes have crippled the enclave’s ability to keep its oxygen plants running. Without a stable electricity supply, generators stall, and the few remaining units cannot meet the demand of over 2,000 patients who rely on supplemental oxygen daily. International aid groups warn that the shortage could push mortality rates higher as critical surgeries are postponed and newborns with respiratory distress are left vulnerable.
Medical staff describe a daily scramble to secure enough oxygen cylinders to keep ventilators operational. „We have to decide which patients receive oxygen and which do not,” said Dr. Hani Al‑Mansour, a senior physician at Al‑Shifa Hospital. „It feels like we are choosing who lives and who dies.” The hospital’s inventory, once sufficient for a week’s demand, now depletes within days. Aid convoys attempting to deliver oxygen tanks face restrictions at crossing points, slowing the flow of essential supplies. Meanwhile, the remaining functional plants operate at reduced capacity, often throttled by intermittent electricity and limited technical staff.
Can International Pressure Ease the Oxygen Crisis?
The scarcity has also forced a shift to improvised solutions. Some clinics are using portable oxygen concentrators, but these devices provide far less output than the large-scale plants. Families of patients are resorting to sharing personal oxygen cylinders, a practice that raises safety concerns and further strains the limited stock. Health officials estimate that without a rapid influx of fuel and spare parts, the operational plants may shut down within weeks.
Humanitarian organizations are urging the United Nations and donor nations to negotiate safe corridors for fuel and medical supplies. „The lack of oxygen is a direct consequence of the blockade and the destruction of infrastructure,” said Amal Hassan, a spokesperson for the International Committee of the Red Cross. She added that immediate access to electricity and fuel could restore at least half of the disabled plants. Diplomatic talks have been ongoing, but progress remains slow, and the situation on the ground continues to deteriorate. The World Health Organization has warned that the oxygen shortage could become a public health emergency if not addressed promptly.
If the current trajectory persists, Gaza’s health system may face a collapse, with rising deaths from treatable conditions. The shortage also threatens to undermine any efforts to control disease outbreaks, as oxygen is critical for treating severe respiratory infections. Experts stress that a coordinated international response, including the rapid delivery of fuel, spare parts, and additional oxygen cylinders, is essential to prevent a humanitarian disaster.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why are only 12 of the 34 oxygen plants still working? Most plants lost power after repeated attacks on the electricity grid and cannot run without fuel. Damage to equipment and lack of spare parts have also forced many to shut down.
How is the shortage affecting patients in Gaza? Doctors must ration oxygen, delaying surgeries and limiting care for COVID‑19, asthma, and newborns with breathing problems. Some patients are forced to leave hospitals for home care without adequate support.
What steps are being taken to resolve the crisis? International agencies are lobbying for humanitarian corridors to deliver fuel and medical supplies. Some aid shipments have arrived, but restrictions at crossing points delay distribution, and more coordinated effort is needed.
