Unconscionable: WHO chief deplores Israeli attack on Red Crescent in Gaza

Unconscionable: WHO chief deplores Israeli attack on Red Crescent in Gaza

Published January 03,2024


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Head of the World Health Organization (WHO) on Wednesday deplored Israeli strikes that killed at the least 5 civilians together with a five-day-old toddler at a hospital run by the Palestine Red Crescent Society in Gaza.

“I deplore today’s strikes on the Palestine Red Crescent Soceity-run Al-Amal hospital in the southern Gaza city of Khan Younis, which severely damaged the Palestine Red Crescent Society training centre located within the hospital complex,” Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus stated on X.

He added that his colleagues undertook a mission to the amenities, the place they “witnessed extensive damage and displacement of civilians.”

Israeli assaults on the Gaza Strip for the reason that Oct. 7 Hamas offensive have killed greater than 22,000 folks, most of them girls and kids. The bombardment, together with a floor incursion, has left the besieged enclave in ruins, with greater than half of the two.2 million inhabitants displaced and dealing with shortages of meals, water and drugs.

The official loss of life toll from the Hamas assault in Israel stands at 1,200.

Tedros stated 14,000 folks had been sheltering on the hospital, and that whereas lots of them left, these remaining had been extraordinarily fearful for his or her security and planning to go away a spot that they had turned to for refuge and safety.

“Hospitals, ambulances, health workers, and people seeking care must be protected, at all times, under international humanitarian law. Today’s bombardments are unconscionable. Gaza’s health system is already on its knees, with health and aid workers continuously stymied in their efforts to save lives due to the hostilities,” stated the chief of the UN well being company.

“I join international calls for an immediate ceasefire, including urgent action to ensure the accelerated and unimpeded flow of food, medical supplies, water and other essential items to millions of civilians forced to live in unspeakable conditions of hunger, disease spread, and lack of hygiene and sanitation,” he added.

Tedros emphasised that solely a small quantity of provides are being obtained, and solely a fraction of Gazans in want of medical evacuation are being evacuated.

“This is unacceptable in light of the dire humanitarian catastrophe which has unfolded over three months. Indeed, WHO’s movements, particularly in northern Gaza and increasingly in the south, have been severely impeded by the ongoing violence inside Gaza. Our operations are further impeded when essential local partners, like the Red Crescent, are themselves needlessly impacted by the strikes,” he stated.

“If the conditions for a cease-fire in hostilities have not been met by now, I do not know what it will take. WHO reiterates that health must never be a target during conflicts, and all effort must be taken to protect health facilities, health workers, and patients.”

Source: www.anews.com.tr