WHO sounds alarm on escalating humanitarian crisis in Occupied Territories
By : JD News Desk
Jordan Daily – Amidst the ongoing turmoil in the Eastern Mediterranean Region, the situation has deteriorated significantly, sparking alarm from the World Health Organization (WHO).
Dr. Ahmed Al Mandhari, the WHO Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean, addressed the media today, highlighting the catastrophic proportions of the crisis in the occupied Palestinian territory and Israel and the spillover into neighboring areas.
The conflict, which erupted eleven days ago, has aggravated what was already one of the world’s most dire humanitarian crises in the region. Dr. Al Mandhari expressed deep concern about the escalating hostilities on the border between Israel and Lebanon, which could potentially destabilize neighboring nations and jeopardize the safety, health, and well-being of the entire region’s population.
In response to the escalating violence, the United Nations and WHO have issued repeated calls for all parties involved to cease hostilities and ensure the protection of civilians, health workers, patients, and healthcare facilities, as stipulated by international humanitarian law. They have also urgently called for the safe release of all hostages.
One pressing issue is the humanitarian access to the Gaza Strip through the Rafah crossing from Egypt. Essential supplies have been prepped for distribution for more than 72 hours but remain stranded.
WHO has emphasized the necessity for Israel to reverse its evacuation orders for 1.1 million individuals in northern Gaza, including over 2,000 patients in 23 hospitals. Dr. Al Mandhari stressed the critical nature of the situation, emphasizing that moving critical patients is perilous and the existing hospitals in southern Gaza are already overwhelmed.
Moreover, the hostilities on the Israel-Lebanon border have resulted in civilian casualties in Lebanon. Despite these urgent appeals, the conflict continues to escalate, deepening the human tragedy.
Over 2 million people in Gaza are currently living under siege, cut off from essential aid, including water, food, and fuel supplies, while being deprived of their fundamental human rights. Dr. Al Mandhari underscored that this dire situation constitutes a stark example of injustice, violating both international human rights law and international humanitarian law.
As the leading global agency for public health, WHO has taken on a moral obligation to ensure that all individuals worldwide have access to basic health services and medical treatment without any risks or restrictions. In the midst of chaos and suffering brought about by conflict and war, every person, without exception, is entitled to the right to health, a principle that must be upheld without fail in all circumstances, Al Mandhari noted.
