Delivery for Gaza medical shortages

Ma’an- The Turkish Red Crescent donated a truckload of medical supplies to the Palestinian Ministry of Health to meet ongoing shortages, the ministry's PR head said Thursday.

Omer An-Naser told Ma'an that the truck contained medication which has run out in Gaza, to be added to a delivery of 20 truckloads of medical supplies to Gaza by the ministry on Saturday and Sunday.

An-Naser said the delivery would include 81 types of supplies, including treatment for heart and kidney conditions, cancer and other chronic diseases.

Also Thursday, international humanitarian group Oxfam said the Gaza health ministry was forced into "emergency measures" by the "disastrous" state of the health service in the coastal enclave.

"A total of 178 types of medications and 123 types of medical supplies have already run out and others have reached their expiration date," the report said.

"Surgeries have been cancelled or delayed indefinitely while basic health services like dentistry and outpatient clinics have been suspended."

The report said shortages were a failure in coordination between the Ramallah and Gaza health authorities despite the unity agreement between the divided administrations signed over a month ago.

Gaza-based Palestinian Center for Human Rights called for President Mahmoud Abbas and Ramallah Prime Minister Salam Fayyad to "investigate thoroughly the reasons for the obstructed supply of medications ... and to hold those responsible accountable," the report said.