Confirmation has been received from the World Health Organization regarding the tragic death of one of their employees in Gaza, along with her husband, six-month-old baby, and two brothers.
29-year-old Dima Alhaj, a staff member of WHO, lost her life in the ongoing conflict in Gaza, the occupied Palestinian territory.
According to a press statement released by WHO on Tuesday night, Alhaj was killed during a bombing at her parents’ house in southern Gaza, where she had sought refuge from Gaza City.
She and her family, including her husband, their six-month-old baby, and her two brothers, were among the casualties.
WHO reported that over 50 other family and community members who were sheltering in the same house also lost their lives.
Alhaj served as a patient administrator at the Limb Reconstruction Centre, an integral part of the WHO Trauma and Emergency Team.
She held a bachelor’s degree in Environmental and Earth Sciences from the Islamic University of Gaza and was actively involved in environmental and health-related studies and work.
Furthermore, she pursued a master’s degree at Glasgow University, Scotland, UK, as part of the Erasmus exchange program from 2018-2019.
Dr. Rik Peeperkorn, the WHO representative in the occupied Palestinian territory, expressed his heartfelt tribute to Alhaj, describing her as a remarkable individual known for her positivity, professionalism, and crucial contributions to the WHO team. He also highlighted the devastating impact of her loss on her family, friends, and colleagues.
Reflecting on the tragic event, Dr. Peeperkorn emphasized the needless loss of innocent lives in the conflict, urging the responsible parties to act decisively to end the violence.
He reiterated WHO’s solidarity with Alhaj’s family and colleagues in the occupied Palestinian territory and across the organization, mourning the profound loss of a dedicated and compassionate individual.