WHO Staff Detained Amid Attacks on Gaza Operations, Urgent Response Needed

URGENT UPDATE: In a shocking escalation of violence, Israeli forces have detained members of the World Health Organization (WHO) following attacks on their staff residence and a crucial warehouse in Deir el-Balah, Gaza. The assaults occurred during a period of heightened conflict, compelling thousands of residents to evacuate under dire circumstances.

Today, October 15, 2023, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus confirmed that the staff residence was attacked three times, with the agency’s warehouse also targeted in the escalating violence. In a statement shared on X (formerly Twitter), he revealed, “Israeli military entered the premises, forcing women and children to evacuate on foot toward Al-Mawasi amid active conflict.”

The situation turned grave as male staff members and their families were reportedly handcuffed, interrogated, and screened at gunpoint. Two WHO staff members and two family members remain detained, with one staff member still held, as the others were released. The agency is demanding their immediate release, emphasizing the urgent need for medical personnel to operate in an area facing catastrophic health challenges.

With around 32 WHO staff and family members evacuated to the WHO office when access became possible, Tedros stressed that these incidents severely compromise the organization’s ability to respond to the health crisis in Gaza. He noted that the attacks have affected multiple WHO facilities, pushing the already strained health system further toward collapse.

The WHO has reported that its main warehouse, a vital resource in Deir el-Balah, sustained damage during an attack yesterday, resulting in explosions and a fire that left it nonfunctional. “With the main warehouse nonfunctional and the majority of medical supplies in Gaza depleted, WHO is severely constrained in adequately supporting hospitals, emergency medical teams, and health partners,” stated Tedros.

As the humanitarian crisis deepens, between 50,000 and 80,000 residents in central Gaza were forced to flee their homes following evacuation orders. Many families were seen transporting their scant belongings on donkey carts, illustrating the dire impact of the conflict on civilians.

Irish President Michael D. Higgins released a statement today, warning that such military actions would lead to widespread destruction of infrastructure, leaving displaced families with “nothing to return to.” The humanitarian implications are profound, as the WHO emphasizes that the geographical coordinates of all its facilities are shared with relevant parties to ensure their protection.

The call for immediate action is clear. As the situation evolves, the international community must respond to the urgent needs of Gazans facing an unprecedented health crisis exacerbated by violence. The WHO’s ability to operate depends on the safety of its personnel and facilities, which must be safeguarded to provide essential health services in this critical time.

As developments unfold, the world watches closely, urging for the safety and release of WHO staff and for humanitarian efforts to resume without further obstruction.