A News Agency

WHO Director-General Ghebreyesus announced that the organization’s office and main warehouse in Gaza, Deir el-Balah, were attacked three times today.

He noted that the Israeli army entered the building during active clashes and forced women and children to evacuate on foot toward El-Mevasi, while male staff and family members were handcuffed, robbed, and interrogated on site.

Ghebreyesus stated that two WHO staff members and two family members were detained: “Three were later released, while one staff member remains in custody.”

He added that 32 WHO staff members and family members were evacuated to the WHO office as soon as access was possible.

“WHO demands the immediate release of detained staff and protection of all its personnel. The recent evacuation order in Deir el-Balah has affected many WHO facilities, jeopardizing our ability to operate in Gaza and pushing the health system toward collapse. WHO’s main warehouse in Deir el-Balah is located within the evacuation zone and was damaged during yesterday’s attack, which caused explosions and fires inside.”

Ghebreyesus said that with the main warehouse becoming non-functional and most medical supplies running out, WHO is severely limited in adequately supporting hospitals, emergency health teams, and health partners who are already suffering from critical shortages of medicines, fuel, and equipment.

WHO urgently calls on member states to help ensure a continuous and regular flow of medical supplies to Gaza, Ghebreyesus said.

“Compromising the operations of WHO, the leading health organization, paralyzes all health interventions in Gaza. A ceasefire is not only necessary but also a long overdue necessity.”