Gaza : WHO operations compromised following attacks on warehouse, staff & families | United Nations

The World Health Organization (WHO) operations compromised following attacks on warehouse and facility sheltering staff and families in Deir al Balah, Gaza. The Organization will remain in Deir al Balah, deliver and expand its operations, a WHO senior official said. The World Health Organization (WHO) operations compromised following attacks on warehouse and facility sheltering staff and families in Deir al Balah, Gaza. WHO representative for the Occupied Palestinian Territory Rik Peeperkorn spoke to reporters today (22 Jul) via video link, stressing that the Organization will remain on the ground. “We stay in and deliver, and we will expand our operation,” he said. On Monday (21 Jul), following intensified hostilities in Deir Al Balah, after the latest evacuation orders issued by the Israeli military, the WHO staff residence, WHO residence for the national staff was attacked three times, the senior WHO official said. “Personnel and their families, including children, were exposed to grave danger and traumatized after airstrikes caused a fire and significant damage,” Peeperkorn said, adding that Israeli military entered the premises, forcing women and children to evacuate on foot toward Al-Mawasi amid active conflict. “Male staff and male family members were handcuffed, stripped, interrogated on the spot, and screened at gunpoint. Two WHO staff and two male family members were detained. Three were later released, while one staff member remains in detention.,” he added. Peeperkorn stressed that most of the WHO staff housing is now inaccessible in Deir Al Balah. “Last night due to this intensified hostilities, 43 staff and their families were already relocated from several staff residences to the WHO office in the darkness and in significant risk,” he explained. The WHO senior official also said that in another event, WHO’s main warehouse located in Deir al Balah is within the evacuation zone, and was damaged yesterday after an attack caused explosions and fire inside. “We see this as part of a pattern of systematic destruction of health facility. We also understand what was reported that it was later looted by desperate crowds,” he added. Peeperkorn highlighted that the geographical coordinates of all WHO premises, including offices, warehouses, and staff housing, are shared with the relevant parties. “With the main warehouse nonfunctional and the majority of medical supplies in Gaza depleted, WHO is severely constrained in adequately supporting hospitals, emergency medical teams and health partners, which are, as we know, already critically short on medicines, medical supplies, fuel and equipment,” the WHO official said. WHO urgently called Member States to “help to actually increase the support to WHO and to help ensure a sustained and regular flow of medical supplies into Gaza.” Peeperkorn concluded by calling for “the immediate release of the WHO staff member detained yesterday and the protection of all our staff and its premises. We reiterate our call for the active protection of civilians, health care and its premises, and for the rapid and unimpeded flow of aid.”


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