Gaza Civil Defense Center Out of Service Due to Lack of Spare Parts

The Civil Defense center in the Nuseirat camp in central Gaza has ceased operations after its last fire truck broke down. All vehicles at the center are now inoperable due to accumulated mechanical failures and a severe shortage of spare parts, oils, and maintenance equipment. Officials stated that the center's shutdown endangers thousands of Palestinians in the Nuseirat, Bureij, Maghazi, Al-Zahra, and Al-Mughraqa areas, leaving them without fire, rescue, and ambulance services during emergencies.

The center's operational halt is attributed to the ongoing crisis in spare parts and vehicle maintenance, exacerbated by Israeli restrictions on the entry of necessary supplies for rehabilitating the sector's service systems, contrary to the ceasefire agreement. Sami Abu Sbeika, Director of Maintenance, Supply, and Equipment for the Civil Defense in the Middle Governorate, explained that the unavailability of spare parts, oils, filters, batteries, and other maintenance essentials has led to the accumulation of breakdowns in Civil Defense vehicles over time. He noted that the Nuseirat center, which serves wide areas including Nuseirat, Bureij, and Deir al-Balah, had approximately five vehicles, all currently out of service. Abu Sbeika appealed for international intervention to help salvage these vehicles, describing the potential disaster as "very large."

He detailed that the final vehicle stopped working after its engine overheated significantly, requiring engine disassembly. However, the necessary spare parts are unavailable in Gaza's markets. "We approached international institutions and asked them to provide the required spare part, but we have not received any response so far, although the requests have been ongoing for over two months," he said.

Hassan Jaber, Head of the Ambulance Department for the Middle Governorate's Civil Defense, confirmed that the Nuseirat center has halted all services, including firefighting, ambulance, and rescue, due to the lack of spare parts and the scarcity of oils and fuel. "If a colleague at the center is injured, or an emergency occurs, we will not be able to provide ambulance service and transport the injured because the ambulance vehicle is out of service," Jaber stated. He warned of the consequences of the fire trucks being out of service, saying, "If a fire breaks out in the Nuseirat camp, Al-Zawaida, or the Al-Mughraqa area, we will not be able to provide our services because the fire truck is out of service."

Jaber highlighted that the Nuseirat center's closure doubles the risks for the governorate's residents, especially if fires or attacks coincide with heavy rainfall that could lead to tent flooding or building collapses. He urged international institutions to address the Civil Defense's needs as a humanitarian service, providing heavy equipment, spare parts, oils, and fuel to enable its crews to respond and protect residents during emergencies. The article also notes that Israel has reneged on commitments from the first phase of the Gaza ceasefire agreement, which began in October, including allowing the entry of heavy equipment and machinery, halting military operations, opening crossings, and permitting agreed-upon aid quantities.