UNICEF, WHO and UNFPA pleads with Russia to seize attacks on healthcare facilities in Ukraine

The heads of UNICEF, the World Health Organization (WHO) and the UN Population Fund (UNFPA) have pleaded with Russia to stop the attacks on Ukraine’s healthcare facilities.

This was made known in a joint statement by UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell, UNFPA Executive Director Dr. Natalia Kanem, and WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus

Since Russia invaded Ukraine, 31 attacks on health care have been documented by the World Health Organization. These incidents have killed and injured civilians, as well as destroyed facilities and ambulances, disrupting access to essential health services.

The heads of UNICEF, the WHO and UNFPA called for an immediate cessation of all attacks on health care in Ukraine.

“Today, we call for an immediate cessation of all attacks on health care in Ukraine. These horrific attacks are killing and causing serious injuries to patients and health workers, destroying vital health infrastructure, and forcing thousands to forgo accessing health services despite catastrophic needs.”

The global organisations’ leaders said that to attack the most vulnerable – babies, children, pregnant women, and those suffering from illness and disease, as well as health workers risking their safety to save lives – is “an act of unconscionable cruelty”.

The report stated that since the start of the war, more than 4,300 births have occurred in Ukraine, with 80,000 women projected to give birth in the next three months, despite the fact that oxygen and medical supplies, particularly those for the management of pregnancy difficulties, are running dangerously low.