The World Health Organization said on Wednesday that it had never seen so many attacks on the health system as at the moment in Ukraine, where Russian forces entered on February 24.

“The health system has become a target (…).

It starts to become part of the strategy and tactics of war.

This is totally unacceptable, it is against international humanitarian law,” WHO emergency chief Michael Ryan told a news conference.

“We are only at the very beginning (…) and we have never seen so many attacks on the health system anywhere in the world,” he said.

43 targeted attacks

Since the Russian invasion of Ukraine on February 24, the WHO has authenticated 43 attacks against the health system.

These can be attacks on medical facilities or healthcare workers.

"The Ukrainian health system has reached a critical level, it is teetering on the edge of the abyss", warned Ryan, asking: the Ukrainian health system needs to be supported, but how to manage to deploy teams on the spot even then? that medical infrastructures are being targeted?

Lack of supplies

The WHO has been able to deliver aid to many towns in Ukraine, but still has difficulty accessing it.

Around 100 tonnes of supplies, including oxygen, insulin, surgical equipment, anesthetics and blood transfusion kits, have been delivered so far.

Other equipment, including oxygen generators, electrical generators and defibrillators, was also delivered.

And the WHO is preparing to send an additional 108 tonnes.

Financial constraints

But the WHO also faces financial constraints that limit its ability to provide the necessary assistance.

The organization has only received $8 million of the $57.5 million requested as part of its appeal for funds for Ukraine.

“Huge sums of money are spent on the purchase of weapons.

We call on donors to invest so that civilians in Ukraine and refugees receive the care they need,” Dr Tedros asked.

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