Gaza Medical Crisis: Oxygen Shortages Put Vulnerable Lives at Risk

In az-Zuwayda, Gaza Strip, Ali Humaida watches the gauge on an oxygen cylinder in the corner of his tent with mounting anxiety. The needle continues to fall, raising fears about how long the remaining oxygen will last for his 14-year-old son, Abdulaziz, who lies on a mattress nearby. Abdulaziz depends on a continuous supply of supplemental oxygen, and the family knows all too well how quickly things can deteriorate when supplies run out.

One night, the family's cylinder emptied before a replacement could be secured. Ali recalled the terrifying moments as his son's breathing rapidly worsened, with the family frantically fanning him with their hands and pieces of cardboard while his face turned blue. For families caring for oxygen-dependent patients across Gaza, such emergencies have become increasingly difficult to avoid amid a severe medical crisis.

The Gaza Ministry of Health warned on August 15 that only 12 of the strip's 34 oxygen-generation stations remained operational, with just four out of 30 cylinder-filling devices still functioning due to mechanical failures and overwork. Abdulaziz has lived with serious health problems since birth, including a congenital heart defect, underdeveloped lungs, hydrocephalus, and autism spectrum disorder. Since his regular specialized treatment at a hospital in Israel stopped due to the war, the family has had to rely heavily on Gaza's devastated health system while facing soaring costs for medicine and supplies.

Medical professionals emphasize the severe risks of interrupting supplemental oxygen. Dr Ghada Hassouna, a physician at al-Aqsa Martyr's Hospital in Deir el-Balah, explained that dropping oxygen levels can cause rapid breathing, increased heart rates, cyanosis, and permanent damage to vital organs like the brain and heart. The Gaza Ministry of Health attributes the widespread shutdown of oxygen plants to Israeli restrictions on spare parts, specialized lubricants, and new equipment, classifying these items as dual-use. Meanwhile, displaced families living in poor conditions face rising rates of respiratory illnesses, forcing hospitals to halt external cylinder refilling services to preserve dwindling supplies for critical hospital departments.