WHO Criticizes Missile Attacks in Middle East as Casualties Rise

Tedros Ghebreyesus, the Director-General of the World Health Organisation (WHO), has expressed strong condemnation regarding recent missile attacks occurring in various regions of the Middle East, indicating a significant increase in health and humanitarian risks as warfare intensifies.

In a message posted on X this past Friday, Ghebreyesus reported that missile assaults in the United Arab Emirates led to the deaths of eight individuals while injuring 158 more.

He mentioned that two fatalities were recorded in Oman, alongside two paramedics in Kuwait who sustained injuries when shrapnel struck their ambulance service.

“Recent assaults on the United Arab Emirates and other Arab nations starkly illustrate how the escalating conflict in the Middle East is undermining health and safety foundations,” Ghebreyesus remarked.

The WHO chief also indicated that attacks on essential infrastructure are amplifying public health dangers in the region.

Ghebreyesus noted that energy installations in countries like Qatar and Saudi Arabia have come under fire, raising alarms concerning exposure to hazardous smoke from resultant fires and the likelihood of respiratory health issues.

He warned that damage inflicted on desalination plants could disrupt vital water supplies, further exacerbating concerns about community mental stress as residents navigate the anxiety tied to these attacks.

“People’s mental health is subject to rising pressures as communities endure the strain of existing under the constant threat of bombardment,” he elaborated.

Moreover, the WHO leader stated that the organization “vehemently condemns” these attacks, voicing apprehensions regarding their humanitarian repercussions, especially for vulnerable groups.

Ghebreyesus revealed that he discussed these issues during a meeting with the UAE’s Permanent Representative to the UN in Geneva, Jamal Al Musharakh, as they explored the broader health implications stemming from the ongoing conflict.

He also highlighted the importance of the WHO’s logistics hub located in Dubai, emphasizing its critical role in distributing emergency medical supplies throughout the Middle East, Africa, and Asia.

These recent attacks occur amidst the ongoing conflict involving the US, Israel, and Iran, which has seen a fresh escalation over recent weeks and has spread to various countries across the region.

Reports indicate that the US and Israel launched a coordinated operation targeting Iran at the end of February, marking the beginning of widespread hostilities impacting numerous nations in the Middle East.

The conflict is now confirmed to have claimed over 1,500 lives, with civilian infrastructure, including energy and health facilities, increasingly at risk.

The WHO has persistently called for a de-escalation of violence, cautioning that the ongoing hostilities could further deteriorate health systems and restrict access to essential services. Ghebreyesus reiterated the urgent need for collaborative action to protect lives and maintain health systems, underscoring that “peace is the best medicine.”