WHO Concerned: Attack on Israel’s Welfare City Could Lead to Disaster

World Health Organization Concerned

The Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO), Tedros Ghebreyesus, expressed deep concerns about the ground attack planned by Israel on the southern city of Rafah in the Gaza Strip, stating, ‘We are deeply concerned that a large-scale military operation in Rafah could lead to a bloodbath and further weaken the already collapsed health system.’

WHO Warning

As Israel continues to target civilians across the Gaza Strip, the planned large-scale ground assault on the southern city of Rafah raises concerns. WHO Director-General Tedros Ghebreyesus warned that any ground attack in Rafah, which is estimated to host 1.2 million Palestinians, would lead to a major disaster. Ghebreyesus said, ‘We are deeply concerned that a large-scale military operation in Rafah could lead to a bloodbath and further weaken the already collapsed health system.’

Ghebreyesus emphasized that an attack on Rafah would significantly increase the rates of death and disease, stating, ‘A new wave of displacement will further increase overcrowding, restrict access to food, water, health, and sanitation services, lead to increased disease outbreaks, worsen hunger, and result in more casualties.’

• Ghebreyesus pointed out that the deteriorated health system would not be able to cope with the increase in death and injury cases resulting from an attack on Rafah. He underlined that when conflicts escalate, access to the 3 partially operational hospitals in the city would become more difficult, rendering the hospitals dysfunctional.

Warning from the UN

United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) spokesperson Jens Laerke warned earlier today that a military operation in Rafah could ‘lead to a massacre.’ Laerke stated, ‘A ground assault on Gaza, where organizations already struggle to provide humanitarian aid, would be a severe blow. Any ground operation would mean more pain and death.’