WHO condemns attacks on health facilities in Benghazi

The World Health Organisation (WHO) condemned on Sunday the recent attacks on health facilities in the Libyan city of Benghazi, a statement said.

According to the statement, on 21 June a rocket hit the roof of the ENT and Urological Centre, directly above the operating theatres, causing damage to the roof, all oxygen supply pipes and the central ventilation.

WHO stated that this facility was reconstructed in 2014 following damages sustained during the 2011 conflict in Libya.

The statement added: “The centre has a capacity for 300 inpatients, and more than 470 people were in the centre at the time of the attack. Due to damage as a result of the attack, the operating theatres are now non-functional and patients have been relocated to nearby health facilities.”

In addition, the statement said: “The administration building of Benghazi Medical Centre was extensively damaged on 22 June, when a car exploded in the north parking area. No casualties were reported.”

Giving more details about a previous attack on the same facility, the statement said: “Just three weeks ago, the Benghazi Medical Centre had sustained extensive damage to its infrastructure following multiple attacks.”

It said that the centre, which has 1,100 beds and serves a population of half a million people in Benghazi, is the only facility offering tertiary health care services in Benghazi.

WHO noted that these attacks violate international humanitarian law, representing a serious setback for the affected community and an additional challenge to humanitarian work in Libya.

The organisation estimated that nearly 60 per cent of public hospitals in conflict areas in Libya have shut down or are inaccessible.

It stated that such attacks on health facilities in Libya are not only continuing but are also increasing in both frequency and scale.

WHO urged all parties in the conflict to respect the safety and neutrality of health workers and health facilities.