More than 1,000 attacks on healthcare systems in the Occupied Palestinian Territories since October
World Health Organization (WHO) has recorded more than 1,000 attacks on health care facilities in the Occupied Palestinian Territories since the October 7 terror attack in Israel that sparked the ongoing war in Gaza, the agency’s senior official in the region said on Wednesday.
During a press conference, Dr. Rik Peeperkorn, WHO representative in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, told journalists that there is currently no functioning hospital in the southernmost city of Rafah, following Israel’s recent attack there.
The number of hospital beds has dropped sharply, from 3,500 before the conflict broke out to just 1,400 today:
“But 600 of these 1,400 beds are actually provided by field hospitals, so right now the Ministry of Health and the NGOs’ permanent hospitals have only 800 operational beds out of 3,500 beds, plus 600 field hospital beds, for 2.2 million people in the war.”
WHO officials also stressed the urgency of getting critically ill patients out of Gaza, stating that around 10,000 people still needed urgent evacuation, half of whom had serious injuries – including spinal injuries and amputations.
Although hospitals in the West Bank and East Jerusalem and neighboring countries are ready to receive patients – safe evacuation corridors are still needed.
“Do not let politics get in the way of life-saving care for critically ill patients,” he pleaded.
Haiti: Displaced women lack safety and basic services
The United Nations agency for gender equality said Wednesday that unrest in Haiti is leading to an increase in sexual violence against women and girls.
A new one report via United Nations Women Revealing the dire living conditions and lack of security faced by some 300,000 women and girls, amid ongoing political unrest, escalating gang violence and the threat of hurricane season.
Women and girls make up more than half of Haiti’s 580,000 displaced people, and the report highlights how overcrowded refugee camp conditions – lacking basic necessities such as lighting and locks on bedrooms and toilets – are putting them at risk of sexual and gender-based violence.
United Nations Women additional notes that violence against women and girls, especially rape, is also being used in most refugee camps as a deliberate tactic to control their access to scarce humanitarian aid.
Additionally, nearly 90 percent of the women interviewed had no source of income in the camps. More than 10 percent said they had resorted to or considered prostitution to meet their needs at least once, and another 20 percent knew someone who had done so.
UN Secretary-General Marks 10th Anniversary of MH17 Tragedy, Calls for Accountability
United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres on Wednesday paid tribute to the 298 victims who died on Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 over eastern Ukraine, exactly a decade ago.
The Boeing 777 flight was en route from the Dutch capital Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia when it was shot down near the Russian border in an area controlled by pro-Russian rebels.
No survivors.
Mr. Guterres expressed his full solidarity with the families of the victims and, in their memory, called on all countries to strengthen their full cooperation “to ensure that those responsible are held accountable, following the important work of the independent Joint Investigation Team.”
The resolution calls for a comprehensive and independent investigation into the incident.
