World Health Organization: Attacks on Health Care Facilities and Staff Rising Globally
Notable increase in attacks since the recent conflict in the Middle East began, according to WHO.
GENEVA: The World Health Organization (WHO) reported on Wednesday that attacks on health care facilities and staff are increasing globally.
Since the recent conflict in the Middle East began, there has been a notable rise in such incidents, with an average of 3.7 daily attacks prior to the conflict escalating, now increased to 4.3. According to Altaf Musani, Director of Emergency Health Interventions at WHO, this trend clearly indicates that health care is being targeted.
The attacks include airstrikes and shelling on hospitals and clinics as well as the intimidation and arrest of healthcare workers.
Since the conflict began, 50 hospitals and private healthcare centers have been closed, with 16 hospitals damaged across the region, as per the WHO's findings.
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has repeatedly condemned these attacks and called for accountability, particularly highlighting Lebanon where there have been 149 reported attacks on health care facilities.
Since March 2nd, over 2,500 people have been killed in Israeli airstrikes across Lebanon due to retaliatory strikes by Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah.
The United Nations Human Rights office has stated that Israeli strikes targeting civilians and healthcare workers in Lebanon may amount to war crimes.
Israel maintains it is targeting Hezbollah sites rather than healthcare workers.
Furthermore, there have been 26 reported attacks on health care sites in Iran since the end of February.
WHO reports also indicate a significant impact on healthcare provision in Gaza, where currently only one fully functioning hospital remains operational.
Similarly, in Sudan, only 54% of hospitals are fully operational due to such attacks.
Since the recent conflict in the Middle East began, there has been a notable rise in such incidents, with an average of 3.7 daily attacks prior to the conflict escalating, now increased to 4.3. According to Altaf Musani, Director of Emergency Health Interventions at WHO, this trend clearly indicates that health care is being targeted.
The attacks include airstrikes and shelling on hospitals and clinics as well as the intimidation and arrest of healthcare workers.
Since the conflict began, 50 hospitals and private healthcare centers have been closed, with 16 hospitals damaged across the region, as per the WHO's findings.
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has repeatedly condemned these attacks and called for accountability, particularly highlighting Lebanon where there have been 149 reported attacks on health care facilities.
Since March 2nd, over 2,500 people have been killed in Israeli airstrikes across Lebanon due to retaliatory strikes by Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah.
The United Nations Human Rights office has stated that Israeli strikes targeting civilians and healthcare workers in Lebanon may amount to war crimes.
Israel maintains it is targeting Hezbollah sites rather than healthcare workers.
Furthermore, there have been 26 reported attacks on health care sites in Iran since the end of February.
WHO reports also indicate a significant impact on healthcare provision in Gaza, where currently only one fully functioning hospital remains operational.
Similarly, in Sudan, only 54% of hospitals are fully operational due to such attacks.
