The World Health Organization said on Sunday that it had lost contact with Al-Shifa Hospital in the Gaza Strip.
She added on the “X” platform: “We assume that those we were communicating with are now joining tens of thousands of displaced people who had taken shelter in the hospital but are now fleeing the area.”
The organization spoke of reports it received stating that “some of those who fled the hospital were shot at and injured, and some were even killed,” renewing its call for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, which it described as “the only way to save lives and put an end to the horrific suffering there.”
Deeply worrisome and frightening: @WHO has lost contact with its focal points in Al-Shifa Hospital in #Gazaamid horrifying reports of the hospital facing repeated attacks.There are reports that some of those who fled the hospital have been shot at, wounded, or killed.The…
— Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus (@DrTedros) November 12, 2023
The organization said, “Patients seeking health care should never feel afraid, and health workers who have sworn to treat them should never be forced to risk their lives to provide care,” according to what was reported by the Arab World News Agency.
Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the organization, had previously expressed the organization’s deep concern about the safety of health workers in the hospital and the patients, wounded, children and displaced persons inside it.
He referred to reports that he described as “terrifying” about the hospital being subjected to repeated attacks, noting that Israeli tanks were surrounding the hospital.
He said that the organization calls for “medical evacuation of patients and those suffering from critical injuries in a sustainable, orderly and safe manner without obstacles,” pointing to reports that those leaving the hospital are exposed to gunfire and are injured or killed.
In turn, UNICEF, on Sunday, expressed its concern over what it said were reports indicating the death of premature babies as a result of the power outage at Al-Shifa Hospital.
The organization said on the “X” platform: “Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza is without electricity, and we are concerned about reports of the death of premature babies in incubators.” The organization called for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza for humanitarian reasons, saying that “hospitals and children must be protected.”
Earlier today, the Palestinian Information Center said that electricity was completely cut off at Al-Shifa Hospital.
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2023-11-12 07:39:24
