Hospitals in Gaza "risk turning into morgues" as they lose power during Israel's bombardment of the enclave, the International Committee of the Red Cross warned on Thursday.
A humanitarian crisis is rapidly spiraling in Gaza, where aid agencies and health officials report hundreds of thousands have been displaced amid shortages of food, water and electricity — putting extra strain on medical facilities.
"As Gaza loses power, hospitals lose power, putting newborns in incubators and elderly patients on oxygen at risk," ICRC regional director for the Near and Middle East, Fabrizio Carboni, said in a statement.
Gaza’s only power station has stopped working after running out of fuel, the head of the Gaza power authority told CNN on Wednesday. People in the enclave can still use power generators for electricity but with a blockade on all sides of the border, the fuel needed for the generators to work is running out, the official said.
Nearly 1,200 people have been killed in airstrikes in Gaza since Saturday, according to Palestinian health officials.
Islamist militants are holding as many as 150 hostages in Gaza and Carboni said the Red Cross is in contact with Hamas and Israeli officials to address their release.
"As a neutral intermediary we stand ready to conduct humanitarian visits; facilitate communication between hostages and family members; and to facilitate any eventual release," Carboni said, CNN reports.
