Gaza Warns of Ambulance Service Paralysis Amid Critical Shortages

Gaza's ambulance service is on the brink of collapse, with a staggering 70% of its vehicles rendered inoperable, the Ministry of Health in the Strip warned Sunday. This critical situation threatens a "total paralysis" of emergency medical transport, severely impacting the population's access to healthcare.

Health officials attribute the crisis to a severe lack of essential supplies, including tires, batteries, spare parts, and fuel. These vital components must enter Gaza through Israeli-controlled crossings, and their absence is described as leading to a "humanitarian catastrophe." Of the ministry's 82 ambulances, 39 are completely out of service, and an additional 17 require urgent maintenance.

Despite the severe limitations, the remaining functional ambulances are tasked with an immense workload, handling 5,000 patient and personnel transports weekly. The ministry decries the prohibition of spare parts and insufficient fuel, pleading for "immediate action" to secure these materials. They also stress the need for new vehicles to maintain basic operational capacity in the territory, which has suffered extensive damage from nearly three years of Israeli military operations.