WHO warns of increased attacks on hospitals and ambulances in Ukraine

The World Health Organization (WHO) said on Tuesday that attacks on hospitals, ambulances and other health facilities in Ukraine had increased rapidly in recent days and warned that the country was facing a shortage of essential medical supplies. Follow the special coverage of CNN.

The United Nations (UN) agency confirmed on Monday that at least nine people had died in 16 attacks on health facilities since the start of the Russian invasion of Ukraine on February 24. The agency did not name a person responsible for the attacks.

The WHO’s high-ranking emergency official for Europe, Catherine Smallwood, told a news conference that the count included incidents where ambulances had been requested for purposes other than a health emergency.

“We will continue to update these numbers. They have been increasing very rapidly in the last few days,” Catherine said.

The agency works to quickly deliver medical supplies to Ukraine, where oxygen, insulin, personal protective equipment, surgical supplies and blood products are running low, WHO regional director for Europe Hans Kluge said in the interview.

Providing oxygen, childhood vaccines and mental health expertise were among the WHO’s top priorities for the region, he said.

Kluge also emphasized the need to prioritize women’s health needs, including maternal health and emergency obstetric care, and to respond to sexual and gender-based violence.

“Past conflicts have shown us that adolescent girls, women with disabilities and older women are in the most vulnerable situation.”

“They face an increased risk of being attacked by outsiders and armed groups, as well as intimate partner violence and sexual abuse and exploitation,” Kluge said.

(Reporting by Manas Mishra in Bengaluru)