The World Health Organization has condemned recent attacks on its facilities in Gaza, which have severely hampered its humanitarian efforts and raised alarms about the health crisis affecting millions in the region.**
WHO Denounces Israeli Attacks Amidst Escalating Gaza Health Crisis**
WHO Denounces Israeli Attacks Amidst Escalating Gaza Health Crisis**
WHO calls for immediate protection of its staff and condemns attacks on its facilities in central Gaza, as humanitarian conditions worsen.**
The World Health Organization (WHO) has issued a strong condemnation regarding the Israeli military’s recent ground offensive in central Gaza, which has significantly disrupted their operations. According to the UN agency, the Israeli forces targeted a residential building housing WHO staff and their families in Deir al-Balah and attacked its primary warehouse, leading to destruction and chaos.
On Monday, the WHO underscored that these assaults came as its healthcare personnel were already under severe pressure due to the ongoing conflict, which has escalated over the past 21 months. The spokesperson for the WHO described the situation in the residential building as grave, indicating that staff and their children faced bombings that resulted in fires, mass trauma, and significant physical harm. In an alarming turn, the military reportedly breached the premises, forcing evacuations, handcuffing male staff members, and conducting screenings at gunpoint. While two WHO staffers and two family members were taken into custody, three were subsequently released; one remains detained.
The WHO has since demanded the immediate release of the remaining detained personnel and the safeguarding of its employees who have been relocated to the organization's offices in Deir al-Balah. The agency reported substantial damage to its warehouse, which was looted by local populations amidst a deteriorating situation. Although direct responsibility for these attacks has not been attributed, the WHO indicated that these incidents are emblematic of a damaging trend against health service facilities.
As the humanitarian crisis unfolds, reports indicate that approximately 49,000 to 80,000 civilians have been forced to flee due to newfound offensives in their neighborhoods. Malnourishment and medical neglect are rampant, with UN agencies highlighting the severe conditions that hundreds of malnourished individuals face in clinics and hospitals. Since Saturday, the Hamas-run health ministry has reported multiple fatalities connected to malnutrition.
In response to ongoing conflicts, Israeli military actions in Deir al-Balah have included orders for the evacuation of specific residential blocks amidst claims of significant military maneuver. This conflict continues in the wake of the Hamas-led assault in southern Israel in October 2023, which has brought devastating losses to civilians, with an estimated 59,029 fatalities recorded in Gaza.
As the obstacles to aid and humanitarian rights increase, the WHO and global human rights organizations continue to voice their concerns over the violence that envelops civilians trapped in this humanitarian crisis. The lack of access to necessary medical services and the fear of ongoing military action underscore the dire state of living situations for millions within the beleaguered territory.
