UAE and Qatar donate funds to stave off Gaza health crisis

The United Arab Emirates has donated $2 million, and Qatar has pledged another $9m., to fuel backup generators in Gazan medical institutions, officials said on Friday.

The UAE announced the donation on Thursday after a World Health Organization official warned on Monday that fuel for generators in Gaza’s hospitals and health clinics would run out in the next 10 days if no arrangements were made to replenish its supply.

“The Emirates provided $2m. in aid to make up for the shortfall in funding in the UN program that provides fuel for electricity in the Gaza Strip’s hospital,” the report stated.

The World Health organization announced the UAE donation in a statement, saying it would “provide enough fuel to keep facilities running for several months.” Qatar’s pledge was announced on its Foreign Ministry website.

So far generators have stopped at three of Gaza’s 13 hospitals and 14 of its 54 medical centers, according to the Hamas Health Ministry.

In the past year, the UN has provided at least $3m. in emergency funding to fuel backup generators in Gazan hospitals and health clinics.

Gaza suffers from severely inadequate electricity infrastructure, with most of the Strip currently receiving intervals of six hours of power followed by 12-hour blackouts.