The Director-General of the World Health Organization, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, stressed that current priorities include meeting urgent health needs, supporting the operation of hospitals and primary care facilities, and transporting patients inside and outside Gaza to receive specialized medical care.
In a speech during the opening of the 156th session of the Executive Board of the organization, yesterday evening, Monday, he pointed out that the organization has sent 63 trucks loaded with medical supplies since the start of the ceasefire, noting that 30 more trucks will arrive in the coming days, indicating that the organization provides 60% of the total medical supplies and 100% of the fuel needed for hospitals and emergency medical facilities.
He stressed the importance of transforming the ceasefire in Gaza into a lasting peace in the region.
He explained that the organization, in cooperation with partners, deployed 52 emergency medical teams from 26 organizations during the aggression on the Gaza Strip, which resulted in providing more than 2.4 million medical consultations, performing more than 36,000 emergency surgeries, treating about 86,000 injuries, and vaccinating 550,000 children against polio.
The organization also contributed to negotiating humanitarian truces. Tedros addressed attacks on health facilities, indicating that the organization verified more than 1,500 attacks on health care in 15 countries and regions last year, resulting in 932 deaths and 1,767 injuries.
He added that the organization launched a new report last year that includes nine recommendations to enhance accountability for attacks on health care, calling on member states to implement these recommendations to ensure the protection of health workers and medical facilities in conflict areas.
