WHO for Gaza: Urgent need to protect medical infrastructure

The protection of medical infrastructure and health personnel is “Imperative in every circumstance”, said today, Monday (17/5) its general secretary World Health Organization Tentros Antanom Gebregesus, in his first comment on the week-long hostilities between the Israeli armed forces and Hamas.

“It is fundamental that international humanitarian standards are fully respected.” “I urge leaders on all sides to ensure that these vital laws are respected,” he told a WHO press conference in Geneva.

The head of the WHO noted that “the recent escalation of the conflict has caused dozens of incidents involving workers in the health sector and health infrastructure and in addition, tests and vaccination against Covid-19 have been severely affected, which poses health risks throughout the people”.

“The WHO has been working and collaborating for years with all stakeholders in the health sector in Israel and Palestine and has worked very well, trying to bring the two sides closer together on issues of mutual interest,” he said. Emergency, Mike Ryan.

“Stop the attacks on healthcare providers”

“All attacks on healthcare providers must stop immediately,” and access to health care “must be guaranteed,” he said.

“We will continue to work with all those who want to help those in need and those whose health, physical and mental health is affected by this devastating conflict,” he pledged.

As of May 10, 200 Palestinians have been killed in the Gaza Strip and more than 1,300 were injured. At least 59 children are among the dead. On Sunday, 42 Palestinians, including at least eight children and two doctors, were killed in the heaviest daily death toll since the start of hostilities a week ago, according to the local health ministry.

Ten people were killed in Israel, including a child, and 294 were injured by rockets fired from the Gaza Strip.

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