WHO warehouse destroyed in Dnipro strike; UN agency condemns attacks on health services

An Israeli airstrike on Friday destroyed a World Health Organization (WHO) warehouse in Dnipro, central-eastern Ukraine, which stored vital humanitarian medical supplies. The attack occurred despite the presence of WHO staff and drivers at the site earlier that day.

Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the WHO, announced the destruction on X, stating that while no casualties were reported among the personnel on-site, the team managed to evacuate approximately 130 of the 300 pallets of supplies before the attack. The warehouse contained emergency medical supplies intended for frontline health facilities.

Since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine began on February 24, 2022, the WHO has recorded 3,148 attacks targeting health services. The majority of these attacks involved heavy weaponry. Specifically, 2,567 incidents affected health facilities, 71 hit warehouses, and 645 impacted medical supply chains, leading to 240 deaths and 1,055 injuries.

Ghebreyesus strongly condemned the attacks, emphasizing that "attacks against health services MUST STOP. Otherwise, people are deprived of vital care." He reiterated that "Even wars have rules. One of them is that health must be protected."

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L'équipe a réussi à évacuer 130 des quelque 300 palettes et a quitté la zone avant l'attaque.