World Health Organization spokesperson, Christian Lindmeier has asserted that the level of death and suffering in the ongoing Israel-Hamas war is “hard to fathom.”
Speaking to reporters in Geneva, Lindmeier quoted a colleague in Gaza saying, “Every day, you think it is the worst day and then the next day is worse.”
The WHO Spokesperson cited Gaza’s health ministry figures that show that an average of 160 children are killed every day in the territory and the total death toll has passed 10,000.
Lindmeier also said that he was proud of the workers keeping the health system going in Gaza against all odds; “real heroes” who are “working under constant stress with no respite”.
The WHO is also mourning the 16 health workers who have been killed while on duty, he said, stressing that any attacks on health care are forbidden by international humanitarian law.
What is needed now, according to Lindmeier, is “the political will to at least grant a humanitarian pause and access to alleviate the suffering of the civilian population as well as the hostages in Gaza.”
He added, “Nothing justifies the horror being endured by civilians in Gaza.”
Lindmeier reiterated the UN’s calls for “unhindered, safe and secure access” for some 500 trucks of aid a day, not only across the border but also “all the way through to the patients in the hospitals” where he said surgeries including amputations were being performed without anesthesia.
He noted that hundreds of truckloads of aid are waiting for access at the Egypt-Gaza border and humanitarians on the ground in Gaza are on standby to facilitate the distribution of relief items.
“Access, access, access is necessary,” he added.
Calling on Hamas to release the hostages, the WHO Spokesperson said that in Israel, people are “frightened, traumatized and anguished for their loved ones.”
He stressed that many of those held captive need urgent medical attention.
“History Will Judge Us All”
The head of the World Health Organization (WHO), Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, urged all parties involved to agree to a humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza and “work toward a lasting peace.”
Posting to social media, he said that 10,000 people had been killed over the course of a month of “intense bombardment” in Gaza, more than 4,000 of them children.
He asked, “How long will this human catastrophe last?”
The WHO Director-General reiterated his call for a humanitarian ceasefire and the immediate release of hostages held in Gaza.
He added, “History will judge us all by what we do to end this tragedy.”
On Monday, Tedros joined the heads of several major UN bodies in a united call for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza. “Enough is enough. This must stop now,” a joint statement said.
“An entire population is besieged and under attack, denied access to the essentials for survival, bombed in their homes, shelters, hospitals and places of worship. This is unacceptable,” the statement added.
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