Gaza Hospital canceling surgeries as blockade prevents access to anesthetics

Source: AP, 21-10-2007
GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip - Gaza`s main hospital said Sunday it has run out of anesthetic for surgeries and canceled all but the most critical procedures, due to an "Israeli" blockade of its borders.
The Shifa hospital had been using emergency reserves of nitrous oxide, or laughing gas, for the past two weeks, and placed an order for fresh supplies, but stocks ran out Sunday morning, hospital spokesman Walid Mahalawi said.
"Israel" has severely restricted the flow of cargo and people through Gaza`s crossings since the Islamic Hamas took control of the coastal strip in June as a serious attempt to salvage the deteriorating security situation in the Zone. "Israel" has since declared Gaza a "hostile entity" in an attempt to pressure Hamas to stop rocket attacks on "Israeli" towns and the border crossings.
Mahmoud Daher, of the World Health Organization in Gaza said the cause of the nitrous oxide shortage was that "Israeli" suppliers would not ship fresh gas cylinders without receiving the empties in exchange.
Mahalawi said 10 emergency operations were performed at Shifa during the day Sunday, down from a daily average of 20 usually carried out there. He did not know how many elective surgeries were canceled.
In the absence of the gas, patients had to be sedated using intravenous drugs that pose risks to some and carry a longer recovery time, he said.