Lebanon – The Human Rights Office expresses its shock that ambulances were targeted by successive Israeli raids

The office stressed the need to respect and protect medical teams exclusively assigned to medical tasks at all times, stressing that “Intentionally targeting civilians is a war crime and accountability is essential.”

The World Health Organization reported that Tibnin Governmental Hospital – one of the busiest hospitals in southern Lebanon in terms of receiving cases of infection – was severely damaged as a result of two strikes that occurred a few days apart during this week.

In a post on social media, the Director-General of the organization, Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, confirmed that 11 health workers were injured, and damage was caused to the emergency department – including vital equipment such as ventilators, monitor screens, stretchers, and medical transport vehicles – in addition to damage to the pharmacy and outpatient clinics.

Dr. Tedros explained that the organization provides support for emergency and urgent maintenance work based on priority needs, while hospital services continue to work despite the enormous pressures they face.

Since the outbreak of war, the World Health Organization has recorded 133 attacks on the healthcare sector, killing 88 people and wounding 206 others. 15 hospitals and 7 primary health care centers were also damaged, while five hospitals and 56 primary health care centers were closed.

Dr. Tedros noted that humanitarian access to southern Lebanon has been severely restricted, hampering the provision of support to health facilities and limiting the population’s ability to access basic care.

He renewed his call for immediate protection of health facilities, health workers, ambulances, and patients. He added: “Safe, sustainable and unrestricted humanitarian access must be ensured throughout Lebanon, so that life-saving services can be provided without any delay and without putting those providing or receiving care at risk.”

***More details about the situation in Lebanon later on this page***