Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Trump administration clears first Ukraine arms aid package paid for by allies: Reuters, citing sources
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman receives Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council Ali Larijani at his office in Al-Yamamah Palace
Wakim: Surrender is not in our dictionary, and it is not true that "Israel" can implement its project in Lebanon and the region
Wakim: The US is preventing the armament of the Lebanese army. The question is, why are the weapons it is handed over by the Resistance being destroyed?
Wakim: The Resistance is required to hand over its weapons to the [current] authority. The question is: Is this authority independent or subservient to America?
Wakim: The Resistance in Lebanon has suffered blows but has not been defeated
Israeli media: Sirens sound in al-Quds, central region, following the detection of a missile launch from Yemen
Wakim: The entirety of Lebanon is under occupation, not just the five points in southern Lebanon
Najah Wakim: The Resistance operations launched against the Israeli occupation gave the Lebanese people hope
Former Lebanese MP Najah Wakim: The Resistance against the occupation began with spontaneous initiatives, with time, the resistance's work became more and more organized

More health workers, patients killed in Lebanon than in Ukraine, Gaza

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Agencies
  • 22 Nov 2024 16:44
  • 2 Shares
3 Min Read

The alarming WHO statistic has surpassed fatality rates in any other active war worldwide, underscoring the devastating impact of the ongoing Israeli aggression on Lebanon and its healthcare system. 

Listen
  • x
  • Israeli forces strike an ambulance in Sohmor village, Bekaa Valley, on Septemeber 24,2024. (X)
    Israeli forces strike an ambulance in Sohmor village, Bekaa Valley, on September 24,2024 (X)

Since October 7, 2023, nearly half of the Israeli attacks on healthcare in Lebanon—47%—have led to the killings of medical professionals or patients, according to a recent report by the World Health Organization (WHO).

The alarming statistic surpassed fatality rates in any other active war worldwide, underscoring the devastating impact of the ongoing Israeli aggression on Lebanon and its healthcare system. 

In comparison, the global average for fatalities in attacks on healthcare stands at 13.3%, as reported by the SSA, based on data from 13 countries and territories, including Ukraine, Sudan, and the occupied Palestinian territory (oPt). In oPt, 9.6% of healthcare-related incidents led to deaths.

From October 7, 2023, to November 18, 2024, the World Health Organization report indicated that 226 health workers and patients were killed, with an additional 199 injured in Lebanon due to the ongoing Israeli aggression.

Over this period, a total of 137 attacks on healthcare facilities were recorded by the SSA, further highlighting the brutal targeting of medical staff and infrastructure.

A breach of international humanitarian law 

Related News

WHO vows to stay in Gaza, appalled by 'Israel’s' evacuation order

Jewish health professionals condemn silence over Gaza

The WHO’s representative in Lebanon, Dr. Abdinasir Abubakar, emphasized that these statistics expose a concerning pattern.

"It’s unequivocal – depriving civilians of access to lifesaving care and targeting health providers is a breach of international humanitarian law," Dr. Abubakar underscored.

"The law prohibits the use of health facilities for military purposes – and even if that is the case, stringent conditions to taking action against them apply, including a duty to warn and to wait after warning," he pointed out.

International humanitarian law mandates that health workers and facilities should always be safeguarded during wars, and health facilities must never be used for military purposes, the report emphasized.

"There need to be consequences for not abiding by international law, and the principles of precaution, distinction, and proportionality should always be adhered to," said Dr. Hanan Balkhy, WHO Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean.

She underlined that "indiscriminate attacks on health care are a violation of human rights and international law that cannot become the new normal, not in Gaza, not in Lebanon, nowhere."

In Lebanon, 68% of the incidents, as per WHO, have targeted health personnel, a pattern similar to those seen in Gaza over the past year. Most attacks in Lebanon have affected health transport (63%) and health facilities (26%).

Dr. Abubakar noted the devastating impact of these attacks.

"Casualty numbers among health workers of this scope would debilitate any country, not just Lebanon. But what the numbers alone cannot convey is the long-term impact, the treatments for health conditions missed, women and girls prevented from accessing maternal, sexual, and reproductive health services, undiagnosed treatable diseases, and, ultimately, the lives lost because of the absence of health care. That is the impact that’s hard to quantify," he stressed.

  • World Health Organization
  • healthcare in Lebanon
  • Israeli aggression on Lebanon
  • Civil Defense
  • medical staff in Lebanon
  • Israeli war crimes
  • Lebanon
  • Ukraine
  • Gaza
  • medical teams

Most Read

Pro-"Israel" conservative Charlie Kirk shot during Utah speech

American far-right activist Charlie Kirk shot dead during Utah speech

  • US & Canada
  • 11 Sep 2025
Uprising against Volker Turk at the Human Rights Council over Gaza.

Uprising against Volker Turk at the Human Rights Council over Gaza

  • Politics
  • 12 Sep 2025
A screengrab from the ad played on Fox News. (X Screengrab)

Fox airs ad warning Trump not to let Netanyahu 'play' him on Gaza

  • US & Canada
  • 11 Sep 2025
Lapid: Egypt’s Arab Force plan a 'severe blow' to normalization

Lapid: Egypt’s Arab Force plan a 'severe blow' to normalization

  • Palestine
  • 14 Sep 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
'Israel’s' Qatar strike backfires, fueling diplomatic fallout
Politics

'Israel’s' Qatar strike backfires, fueling diplomatic fallout

'Israel' committing genocide in Gaza, UN Commission declares
Politics

'Israel' committing genocide in Gaza, UN Commission declares

Rubio supports Gaza offensive, warns few days left for diplomacy
Palestine

Rubio supports Gaza occupation, warns of tight window for deal

US adds Colombia to drug list, drawing Petro’s rebuke
Politics

US adds Colombia to drug list, drawing Petro’s rebuke

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS