(Gaza City) – The Director of the Indonesian Hospital in Gaza, Atef al-Kahlout, has declared that the hospital is on the verge of a complete shutdown due to a critical shortage of fuel. As of Thursday, November 9, the hospital had a mere 1,100 liters of fuel left to power its generator, which is only sufficient for a single day, Al-Kahlout stated on Thursday.
Al-Kahlout further conveyed the hospital’s grim situation, revealing that if they fail to secure additional fuel for their generator, the Indonesian Hospital will cease all its operations by the end of the day on Friday. This alarming announcement was made through the Medical Emergency Rescue Committee (MER-C) social media account, marked as source X.
Situated in the besieged Gaza Strip, the Indonesian Hospital holds a unique and crucial role as a lifeline for the residents of northern Gaza. This role has become even more vital in the face of the ongoing bombardment by Israeli occupation forces. The attacks were initiated by the military wing of Hamas, the ruling authority in the densely populated enclave, on October 7, 2023.
Adding to the dire circumstances, three dedicated Indonesian MER-C volunteers, namely Fikri Rofiul Haq, Reza Aldilla Kurniawan, and Farid Zanzabil Al Ayubi, have chosen to remain at the hospital, declining evacuation by the Indonesian Government. Their steadfast commitment is driven by their determination to continue providing humanitarian assistance to the local population in Gaza.
Speaking on the situation, Fikri Rofiul Haq, one of the volunteers, disclosed to ANTARA on November 8 that humanitarian aid efforts have been stymied in reaching the northern region of Gaza, where the Indonesian Hospital is located.
Haq explained, “Several aid trucks were given permission to enter Gaza, but the distribution of aid from these trucks remains unequal.” He went on to highlight that the humanitarian aid dispatched via the Rafah border gate in southern Gaza had not yet reached the Indonesian Hospital in the north.
Moreover, the central Gaza Strip continues to be subjected to relentless bombardment by Israeli forces, aimed at creating a division between southern Gaza and the northern part of the territory, Haq noted.
The situation worsened as border gates at Rafah were once again sealed, obstructing the movement of residents and the much-needed flow of humanitarian aid. The dire state of the Indonesian Hospital underscores the urgency of the situation, as it grapples with limited fuel supplies amid the ongoing crisis in Gaza.
