Attacks on hospitals and medics rising, driven by Middle East conflict, says WHO

The World Health Organization said on Wednesday that attacks on healthcare facilities and staff are increasing globally, with a notable uptick recorded since the recent conflict in the Middle East began.



Before the U.S. and Israel launched airstrikes on Iran at the end of February, attacks globally on such facilities and staff averaged about 3.7 per day, but that has now increased to 4.3, the WHO said.



"This is clearly showing that healthcare is the target," Altaf Musani, the Director of Emergency Health Interventions at the WHO, told reporters in Geneva.



The attacks include airstrikes and shelling of hospitals and clinics as well as arrests and intimidation of healthcare workers.



"When healthcare is needed most, it is being attacked... These attacks are having a deep impact on functionality," Musani said.