Gaza in Blackout as “Israeli” Blockade Continues
Local Editor, 10-04-2010
The only power plant in the blockaded Gaza Strip has shut down as a crippling "Israeli" closure keeps the impoverished region stripped of much needed fuel.
The facility was forces to close on Friday, following a week of limited fuel imports and "Israeli" authorities' refusal to open any border-crossings.
Palestinian liaison official Raed Fattouh confirmed the closure of all crossings and that they were expected to remain closed for Saturday as well.
That would mean the populated enclave will dip in a blackout for the next three days until fuel supplies are allowed and transported to the power plant.
Vice President of the Palestinian Energy Authority Kanaan Ubeid said all of the four generators at the facility had ceased to function as fuel supplies had reduced from 2,200 units per day to 750 units. "This is not enough to run even one generator on," Ubeid said.
Gaza's sole power plant has been grappled with fuel shortages since December, when European officials handed over responsibility for fuel transfers to the Palestinian Authority upon a request by Ramallah that the aid from the European Union be channeled into civil servant salaries.
The Gaza Strip has been under a paralyzing "Israeli" siege since 2007 when the democratically elected Hamas-led Palestinian government had to limit its rule to the coastal sliver, while the Western-backed Fatah mounted its own government in the West Bank.
The only power plant in the blockaded Gaza Strip has shut down as a crippling "Israeli" closure keeps the impoverished region stripped of much needed fuel.
The facility was forces to close on Friday, following a week of limited fuel imports and "Israeli" authorities' refusal to open any border-crossings.
Palestinian liaison official Raed Fattouh confirmed the closure of all crossings and that they were expected to remain closed for Saturday as well.
That would mean the populated enclave will dip in a blackout for the next three days until fuel supplies are allowed and transported to the power plant.
Vice President of the Palestinian Energy Authority Kanaan Ubeid said all of the four generators at the facility had ceased to function as fuel supplies had reduced from 2,200 units per day to 750 units. "This is not enough to run even one generator on," Ubeid said.
Gaza's sole power plant has been grappled with fuel shortages since December, when European officials handed over responsibility for fuel transfers to the Palestinian Authority upon a request by Ramallah that the aid from the European Union be channeled into civil servant salaries.
The Gaza Strip has been under a paralyzing "Israeli" siege since 2007 when the democratically elected Hamas-led Palestinian government had to limit its rule to the coastal sliver, while the Western-backed Fatah mounted its own government in the West Bank.
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