GAZA, 16th May, 2017 (WAM) -- Severe power and fuel shortages have reached a critical point in Gaza, endangering essential services including health care, waste-water treatment and water provision, the International Committee of the Red Cross, ICRC, said.

Without immediate intervention, the ICRC says, a public health and environment crisis is looming. Currently, people in Gaza only have power for six hours a day in most cases. All aspects of life in Gaza have been affected. As a result, a systemic collapse of an already battered infrastructure and economy is impending.

Due to the power shortages, wastewater treatment plants are no longer fully functional. Without treatment, wastewater, contaminated with faeces, gets pumped directly into the sea. This affects the public health of people in Gaza.

Copyright Emirates News Agency (WAM) 2017.