The general director of the World Health OrganizationTedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, welcomed the ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hezbollahwhich came into force this Wednesday at 4:00 local time in Lebanon (02:00 GMT), and in turn hoped that it “will translate into lasting peace in Lebanon and trigger urgent actions to bring peace to Gaza.”
In a message on his X social network, Adhanom added that he is satisfied with what was announced by the parties on Tuesday, “since the latest escalation of hostilities has been particularly destructive for the health system”
The WHO had assured on Friday that at least 226 health workers have died and 199 have been injured in the Lebanon since the outbreak of hostilities between Israel and the Shiite militia Hezbollah on October 8 of last year.
“We hope that it will be implemented immediately and will result in a lasting peace in Lebanon and trigger urgent actions to bring peace to #Gaza and the entire region,” he asked in X.
“He also warned that civilians in Gaza are suffering enormously and need a life-saving ceasefire, large-scale humanitarian assistance and peace now, before it is too late.”
Previously, the WHO representative in the Lebanon, Abdinasir Abubakarassured that since the beginning of the conflict with Israel there have been at least 137 attacks against Lebanese health facilities, 47
% of which have been fatal for at least one healthcare worker or patient.
“This is a higher percentage than any other active conflict in the world today,” he said. Abubakarwhich highlighted that the world average of fatal attacks on health workers or patients, including other current wars such as those in Ukraine or Sudan, is 13.3%.
Lebanese healthcare system
These attacks, according to the national representative, have also put pressure on the Lebanese health system “bigger than ever“, with 15 of the 153 hospitals in the country that have stopped functioning or only partially operate.
The 60-day ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah was achieved after an agreement reached the day before, in which USA and France They will act as guarantors, as announced by the president of the United States, Joe Biden.
According to Lebanese authorities, around 3,823 have been killed and more than 15,859 have been injured since the start of the clashes between Israel and Hezbollah a year ago, although the vast majority of these victims have occurred since the beginning of the bombing campaign mass in Israel about two months ago.
