WHO verifies 200 attacks on healthcare facilities in Ukraine since Russian invasion

Round 200 assaults have been carried out on healthcare amenities in Ukraine because the starting of the Russian invasion on February 24, the World Well being Group’s Director-Normal Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus mentioned at a press convention in Ukraine on Saturday.

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“I’ve seen the injury inflicted on well being buildings, and listened to accounts of the hurt – bodily and psychological – inflicted on well being employees. These are folks whose main motivation is to guard well being and life.,” mentioned the WHO chief, recounting what he found throughout his go to to Ukraine.

“WHO has now verified 200 assaults on well being care in Ukraine because the conflict started. These assaults should cease. Healthcare isn’t a goal,” he added.

The Director-Normal praised the Ukrainian folks for his or her resilience and drew on his personal private expertise of rising up in a warzone.

“My time right here has affected me very personally. As somebody – myself, who grew up in a warzone myself, I perceive solely too effectively how the folks of Ukraine really feel – the concern for household and pals, the worry, the sense of loss and so forth. As a result of I do know the impression, I do know the devastation of conflict firsthand. And I felt very, very unhappy when Russia invaded Ukraine as a result of I do know its impression and devastation,” he mentioned.

Ghebreyesus continued: “Nonetheless, I’ve seen extraordinary resilience – individuals who have suffered loss and destruction however haven’t given up. They’ve saved going, repairing important providers to cease that destruction making a deeper gap of their lives.”

“These are folks whose main motivation is to guard well being and life.”

Since Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24 in what it calls a “special military operation,” the UN group has been actively delivering trauma and emergency assist to facilitate 15,000 surgical procedures to be carried out, offering the required medicines and healthcare gear to serve 650,000 folks in want.

Particles are seen on web site of the destroyed Mariupol youngsters’s hospital as Russia’s invasion of Ukraine continues, in Mariupol, Ukraine, March 9, 2022 on this nonetheless picture from a handout video obtained by Reuters. (File photograph: Reuters)

“Whereas I noticed and realized of nice struggling, I additionally noticed bravery, humor, kindness and heard tales of spontaneous, usually ingenious methods folks have discovered to assist and shield each other,” he mentioned.

Over the previous few months, WHO has performed an energetic function in Ukraine, coordinating over 50 emergency medical groups in Ukraine and neighboring nations internet hosting refugees who fled the battle and “skilled hundreds of Ukrainian healthcare suppliers on learn how to deal with mass casualties,” he defined.

The WHO chief additionally praised the group’s workers in Ukraine for supporting the war-torn nation’s well being wants.

“Our group in Ukraine was working arduous to help the nation to construct an ever-stronger well being system earlier than the conflict. And that work will proceed.”

“… there may be one medication that WHO can not ship, and which Ukraine wants greater than some other, and that’s peace. So we proceed to name on the Russian Federation to cease this conflict.”

Learn extra:

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Bombing of school in Ukrainian town kills two, 60 more under debris: Governor