The World Health Organisation (WHO) has called for the immediate release of their detained staff member in Deir al Balah, in Gaza.
In a statement, the organisation condemned in the “strongest terms” the attacks on a building housing WHO staff in Deir al Balah and the mistreatment of those sheltering there and the destruction of the building's main warehouse.
Following intensified hostilities in the area after the latest evacuation order issued by the Israeli military, the WHO staff residence was attacked three times on Monday.
According to the United Nations’ (UN) health agency, staff and their families, including children, were exposed to grave danger and traumatised after airstrikes caused a fire and significant damage.
“Israeli military entered the premises, forcing women and children to evacuate on foot toward Al-Mawasi amid active conflict. Male staff and family members were handcuffed, stripped, interrogated on the spot, and screened at gunpoint,” the statement read.
The organisation stated that two WHO staff and two family members were detained, of which three were later released, while one staff member remains in detention.
Meanwhile, 32 people, including women and children, were collected and evacuated to the WHO office in a high-risk mission, once access became possible.
“The office itself is close to the evacuation zone and active conflict. WHO demands continuous protection of its staff and the immediate release of the remaining detained staff member.”
In addition, the WHO said the latest evacuation order has affected their premises.
As the United Nations’ (UN) lead health agency, the WHO said its operational presence in Gaza is now compromised, crippling efforts to sustain a collapsing health system and pushing survival further out of reach for more than two million people.
“Most of WHO’s staff housing is now inaccessible. Last night, due to intensified hostilities, 43 staff and their families were already relocated from several staff residences to the WHO office, under darkness and at significant risk.”
According to the agency, the main warehouse located in Deir al Balah is within the evacuation zone and was damaged yesterday after an attack caused explosions and fire inside – part of a pattern of systematic destruction of health facilities and was later looted by desperate crowds.
With the main warehouse nonfunctional and most medical supplies in Gaza depleted, the WHO is severely constrained in adequately supporting hospitals, emergency medical teams and health partners, already critically short on medicines, fuel, and equipment.
“WHO urgently calls on Member States to help ensure a sustained and regular flow of medical supplies into Gaza.”
The agency has described its facilities as the backbone of the WHO’s operations in Gaza and must always be protected, regardless of evacuation or displacement orders.
“Any threat to these premises is a threat to the entire humanitarian health response in Gaza. In line with the UN’s decision, WHO will remain in Deir al Balah, deliver and expand its operations.
“With 88% of Gaza now under evacuation orders or within Israeli-militarised zones, there is no safe place to go.”
Meanwhile, the WHO said it was appalled by the dangerous conditions under which humanitarians and health workers are forced to operate.
“As the security situation and access continue to deteriorate, red lines are repeatedly crossed, and humanitarian operations pushed into an ever-shrinking space to respond.”
The WHO reiterated the call for the active protection of civilians, health care and its premises and for rapid and unimpeded flow of aid, including food, fuel and health supplies, at scale into and across Gaza. – SAnews.gov.za
