73 healthcare workers killed; Lebanon facing a health crisis: WHO
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Following the repeated targeting of Islamic Health Authority staff, hospitals, and paramedics, resulting in the martyrdom of 73 health sector employees, the World Health Organization announced that Lebanon is currently facing a severe health crisis.
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The logo of the World Health Organization is seen at the WHO headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, June 11, 2019. (AP)
The World Health Organization declared on Saturday that Lebanon is grappling with a severe health crisis, revealing that 73 health sector workers have lost their lives due to the ongoing Israeli attacks.
In a statement shared on its X platform, the organization highlighted the alarming toll, "Lebanon is facing a health crisis. There are 1,974 dead, 9,384 wounded, and 346,209 displaced."
#Lebanon 🇱🇧 is facing a health crisis
— WHO Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean (@WHOEMRO) October 4, 2024
🚨1,974 people killed
🚨9,384 people injured
🚨346,209 people displaced
🚨34 attacks on health care
🚨73 health workers killed
🚨67 health workers injured pic.twitter.com/1h2GECDRzI
The organization also pointed out that Israeli forces have conducted 34 attacks on healthcare facilities, resulting in the martyrdom of 73 health workers and injuries to 67 others.
The health system’s capacity in #Lebanon is deteriorating. @WHO’s medical supplies cannot be delivered due to the almost complete closure of Beirut’s airport.
— Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus (@DrTedros) October 3, 2024
WHO calls on urgent facilitation of flights to deliver health supplies to Lebanon. Lives depend on it! pic.twitter.com/zyCdS1bVZF
Al Mayadeen's correspondent reported that the Israeli occupation targeted a center belonging to the Islamic Health Authority in the town of Siddiqin, located in southern Lebanon, earlier this morning.
On Friday, Israeli occupation forces fired artillery shells at the Salah Ghandour Hospital in the city of Bint Jbeil, southern Lebanon, resulting in casualties among healthcare workers Al Mayadeen's correspondent reported.
In detail, Red Cross emergency workers attempted to transfer the wounded from the hospital, however, Israeli occupation forces refused to guarantee the safety of ambulances. The decision to do so was communicated via the United Nations Interim Force In Lebanon (UNIFIL), which said that the Israeli military command said that the hospital was an "unsafe combat zone."
Nine of the 15 healthcare workers operating in the hospital were critically injured and Israeli occupation forces only okayed the transfer of five individuals to hospitals in Saida.
Medical workers evacuated their fallen co-workers using their cars and transferred the remaining casualties to the Tebnine Governmental Hospital, along with residents in the area.
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