United Nations Special Coordinator for Lebanon Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert warned that the deadly cycle of violence in Lebanon is expanding, “leaving more devastation and suffering.”
In a statement issued on Friday, she said that Lebanon is facing “a humanitarian crisis of catastrophic proportions,” focusing on the increase in civilian casualties, mass displacement and extensive destruction of civilian infrastructure across the country.
“Healthcare personnel and paramedics, have also been hard hit,” Hennis-Plasschaert added, pointing out that “the rise in the number of attacks impacting healthcare facilities and personnel is deeply alarming.”
She also revealed that since October of last year, the WHO verified 53 attacks on healthcare facilities, resulting in 99 deaths and 82 injuries among healthcare staff.
“Eight hospitals across Lebanon have been fully evacuated, with seven others partially evacuated due to damages from or proximity to areas of bombardment,” she continued.
Hennis-Plasschaert made clear that the impact on the healthcare sector “coincides with exponentially growing humanitarian needs, especially among those who are displaced.”
“No effort should be spared to shield hospitals, protected unequivocally under international humanitarian law, from harm,” she stressed.
Furthermore, Hennis-Plasschaert focused on the attacks targeting the media, stating that “journalists, protected under international humanitarian law, are targeted, so too are our fundamental rights to the freedom of information and expression.”
“All actors in conflict must uphold their obligations under international humanitarian law, since even wars have rules,” she concluded.
Earlier on Friday, caretaker Minister of Health Firas Abiad presented a report documenting 55 Israeli attacks on hospitals and 201 on ambulance services.
During a press conference, Abiad revealed “36 direct attacks on hospitals, forced closure of 8 hospitals and partial work in 7.”
“During these attacks, 12 people were killed, 60 were injured and 24 vehicles were damaged,” Abiad disclosed.
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