Only 12 of Gaza’s 34 oxygen-generation stations remain operational, according to the Gaza Ministry of Health, while four of 30 oxygen-cylinder filling devices are still working. The ministry says repeated mechanical failures have overworked the remaining equipment, making oxygen harder to obtain for patients receiving care outside hospitals.
For Ali Humaida’s 14-year-old son, Abdulaziz, the shortage has turned each falling cylinder gauge into a medical emergency. Abdulaziz relies on continuous supplemental oxygen, and his father said his breathing rapidly deteriorated when a cylinder emptied before it could be replaced.
A child’s care now depends on a cylinder
Abdulaziz was born with a congenital heart defect and underdeveloped lungs. He also has hydrocephalus, which required surgery to insert a ventriculoperitoneal shunt, and autism spectrum disorder that leaves him dependent on extensive daily care.
The family lives in a tent in az-Zuwayda, central Gaza. Before the war, Abdulaziz received regular specialised treatment at a hospital in Israel. That treatment has stopped, leaving the family reliant on Gaza’s damaged health system.
Ali said the family spent a night fanning Abdulaziz with their hands and pieces of cardboard after his oxygen ran out. He described watching his son’s face turn blue while they feared he would lose consciousness or fall into a coma.
Key figures
- The United Nations estimates that about 350,000 people in Gaza are living with chronic diseases whose treatment has been disrupted by the war.
- Ali Humaida estimates that Abdulaziz’s medicines, diapers and transport cost 950–1,100 shekels ($315–$365) a month, about twice the pre-war amount.
- Mohammad Abu Salmiya, director of al-Shifa Medical Complex, estimates that about 21,000 patients and wounded people need treatment outside Gaza.
Why refilling oxygen has become harder
The Gaza Ministry of Health says Israel restricts or bans the entry of spare parts and specialised lubricants for hospital generators and oxygen plants, and blocks new plants intended to address the shortage. It also says oxygen cylinders, related devices and electrical generators are classified by Israel as “dual-use” items, preventing their entry or the arrival of spare parts through closed crossings.
Hospitals and the ministry have stopped external oxygen-cylinder refilling services for patients being treated at home or in displacement tents. Health officials describe the decision as a measure to preserve remaining supplies for intensive care units, neonatal incubators, operating rooms and other critical hospital departments. For additional context, see “Gaza’s Healthcare System Nears Collapse as War and Shortages Devastate Patients”.
Medical staff say displacement conditions add respiratory risks. Open areas with dust, smoke from burning plastic and emissions from alternative generators have contributed to more patients suffering acute pneumonia and illnesses such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, according to the supplied account.
Interrupted oxygen can cause rapid harm
Dr Ghada Hassouna of al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in Deir el-Balah said a sharp fall in oxygen saturation can cause rapid breathing, a faster heart rate and cyanosis, the bluish discolouration associated with inadequate oxygen and blood flow.
She said oxygen deprivation can damage vital organs, particularly the brain and heart. For Abdulaziz, she said, a drop in oxygen levels can cause severe or permanent nerve damage.
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