Today, a strike just 100 meters from Rafik Hariri University Hospital, Lebanon's largest public medical facility, caused major damage to a nearby residential area. It killed 4 people and injured 39. The hospital sustained no damage.
Between 28 and 31 March, @WHO verified 11 attacks affecting Lebanese health care facilities. This is an average of 2 attacks every day, with 5 occurring on 28 March alone, impacting facilities in Kfar Tibnit, Ghandouriyeh, Zawtar Al Gharbiyeh, Kfar Dajal, and Jazzine and resulting in 9 deaths and 5 injuries.
On 29 March, attacks impacting health facilities in Bint Jbeil and Chakra caused 1 death with no injuries.
On 30 March, a strike impacting the Rihab hospital in Beirut’s southern suburbs injured 4 people, while the next day, 2 facilities in Kafra and Bint Jbeil were damaged, causing 1 death and 3 injuries.
Since 28 February, WHO has verified 92 attacks on health facilities, medical vehicles, personnel, and warehouses, that resulted in 53 deaths and injured 137 people.
These acts cannot become the new norm. The world must reaffirm, unequivocally, that the protection of health care is not optional, but a universal obligation and a measure of our collective humanity.
As Israel expands its military operations, I call on all parties to uphold their responsibility under international humanitarian law and ensure health facilities, health workers and patients are proactively protected.
Healthcare is #NotATarget.