Gaza Plunging into Darkness Again?

Nour Rida, 26-1-2010

People have not forgotten the "Gaza Blackout" phase yet, as the impoverished territory had to live without electricity in December 2008 due to fuel shortage as "Israel" suffocated the enclave with tight restrictions on supplies.

Today, in 2010, approximately 14 months after Gaza was sinking into darkness during 2008, Palestinians have less than 48 hours to enjoy the last drops of fuel providing them with light amid harsh conditions they live in.

Shortly before the devastating "Israeli" onslaught on the Gaza Strip which killed more than 1,400 Palestinians and destructed most of the Strip's infrastructure and buildings,
Gaza's power plant was shut down as a result of the fuel shortage.

According to Rafeeq Maliha, director of the power plant in Gaza, "The EU, since November, has stopped funding the diesel purchase for the station."

Maliha warns that without intervention from the Palestinian Authority, the densely populated Gaza Strip will be without many basic services that require an adequate amount of electricity.

Kan'an Obeid, deputy manager of the Energy Authority in the coastal enclave, also corroborated upon the EU's decision to stop paying for fuel.

Obeid said that the fuel in Gaza will last until Thursday morning. If a new shipment does not arrive, Gaza's power plant will be forced to shut down, in turn affecting 70 percent of the population.

He explains that the power authority is unable to continue providing adequate energy resources to the citizens of Gaza. The "Israeli" blockade and the suspension of EU support has reduced the output of the station 50%.

Gaza's power plant has four generators, and while all are functional, only one is being used. This generator supplies electricity to the population of Gaza for 16 hours a day, Obeid said, as there is not enough fuel to power all four. The plant is currently running on reserve supplies, he added.

The Gaza Power Plant has been repeatedly and deliberately bombarded by Israel, most notably during the recent Operation Cast Lead. The "Israeli" blockade upon Gaza has prohibited materials from entering that could repair the plant, returning it to full operational capacity.

With the daylight of Thursday as fuel runs out, will the Gaza Strip be living in another phase of "candle light"?