Gaza official says power crisis has worsened
Reageer (0)23-8-2010
GAZA CITY (Ma'an) -- A Gaza official said Monday that despite media reports to the contrary, the electricity crisis in Gaza has worsened.
Kin'an Obed, vice president of the Energy Authority in Gaza, said efforts to solve the fuel dispute had failed and scheduled daily power cuts of 8- to 12-hours continue.
Earlier this month, the sole power station in the Strip shut down for two days due to lack of fuel. Hospitals declared a state of emergency as life-saving equipment was left reliant on generators.
The Gaza government blamed the Palestinian Authority for failing to deliver fuel, while the PA said the Hamas-led government had neglected to transfer fuel payments to Ramallah.
In an effort to resolve the dispute, Obed said from September the government would deduct 170 shekels from salaries of employed residents earning above a certain threshold to enable payment to the PA.
Spokesman for the Gaza Energy Authority Jamal Ad-Dardasawi said only one generator at the power station is functional, and called on the Palestinian governments to put political rivalry aside and to resolve the crisis, particularly during the holy month of Ramadan.
As Muslims fast during daylight, residents depend on electricity as they break their fasts, Ad-Dardasawi explained.
Gaza resident Abu Abdullah said he has to buy food daily for his six children as the refrigerator only works for six hours each day, adding that the family is eating in darkness as his home generator is broken and he cannot afford to replace it.
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