UN acting Humanitarian Coordinator condemns recent attacks to medical facilities in Benghazi

24 Jun 2016

UN acting Humanitarian Coordinator condemns recent attacks to medical facilities in Benghazi

June 24 – Following three incidents in the past days that put access to health care in Benghazi under attack, the acting UN Humanitarian Coordinator and WHO Representative/ head of mission, Dr. Syed Jaffar Hussain, expresses deep concern and urges all parties to refrain from targeting medical facilities and to take all feasible precautions to prevent casualties among their patients and personnel.

Reiterating its primary responsibility to ensure respect for the principles and rules of international humanitarian law and in accordance with the UN Security Council resolution 2286, the acting Humanitarian Coordinator strongly condemns acts of violence, attacks and threats against the medical personnel and humanitarian personnel exclusively engaged in medical duties, their means of transport and equipment, as well as hospitals and other medical facilities, and deplores the long-term consequences of such attacks for the civilian population and the health-care system in Libya.

“I am appalled by such attacks that further endanger the patients and medical personnel in the act of delivering medical and humanitarian assistance” - Dr. Syed Jaffar Hussain said. “I strongly urge all parties fully comply with their obligations under international law, including international human rights law”.

The ENT and Urological Center in Benghazi, the Benghazi Medical Center and Aljalaa Hospital were hit by the recent attacks. These hospitals were given support earlier by WHO providing medical supplies during 2015.