Tedros Ghebreyesus, the Director-General of the World Health Organisation (WHO), has voiced serious concerns regarding damage inflicted on Tehran's Gandhi Hospital during the recent airstrikes targeting the Iranian capital.
In a statement on X made on Sunday, Ghebreyesus described the reports as 'extremely concerning' and indicated that the WHO is currently verifying the situation.
He noted, 'This incident underscores the need for concerted efforts to protect health facilities amid ongoing hostilities.' The WHO emphasizes that healthcare infrastructures are safeguarded under international humanitarian law, stating, 'Health is #NotATarget.'
These remarks come in the wake of the intensifying US/Israel-Iran conflict, with significant worries raised about the repercussions for civilians and the region's health systems.
Increasing Health Hazards
Following the onset of renewed hostilities on February 28, Ghebreyesus cautioned about the 'severe health risks' that the escalation of conflict poses to individuals across the Middle East.
He expressed particular alarm regarding the potential threats to nuclear facilities, urging comprehensive measures to mitigate risks that could affect the local population. He stated, 'As always, peace remains the most effective remedy.'
In a separate communication focused on the developing crisis, he conveyed his profound distress about the situation, emphasising, 'My thoughts are with the civilians caught in the crossfire. Regardless of borders, everyone has the right to live free from the fear of violence. We implore leaders to choose the difficult path of dialogue rather than the futile path of destruction. The global community is watching, hoping wisdom will prevail over violence. Peace is the true medicine.'
Ghebreyesus has consistently condemned what he calls a 'devastating new standard' involving attacks on health workers and facilities, labelling these incidents as contributing to a 'catastrophe in healthcare' that undermines fragile health systems.
The WHO has registered thousands of assaults on healthcare during armed conflicts worldwide, notably in areas like Gaza and Ukraine, asserting that these attacks have pushed health services to breaking point.
In a recent announcement on its website, the agency revealed that as Ukraine enters its fifth year of full-scale conflict, it has recorded a staggering number of healthcare attacks, with occurrences increasing by nearly 20% compared to the previous year.
Since Russia’s invasion began on February 24, 2022, the WHO has reported at least 2,881 assaults on health workers, facilities, ambulances, and medical storage in Ukraine alone.
In Sudan, witnessing one thousand days of conflict as of January 2026, the WHO reported that over 20 million individuals are in dire need of health assistance; more than a third of health facilities there remain inoperative, and the agency has accounted for 201 attacks on healthcare since April 2023.
Rising Tensions
According to PREMIUM TIMES, the latest wave of US and Israeli strikes occurred just a day after Iran and the US had engaged in indirect dialogue regarding Iran’s nuclear ambitions.
US President Donald Trump accused Iran of attempting to revive its nuclear programme following US airstrikes on its nuclear sites in June during this latest war.
Despite Iran’s assertions that its nuclear initiatives serve peaceful purposes, recent mediation efforts by Oman have not succeeded in averting fresh confrontations. Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, was reported killed during this surge in violence.
In the aftermath, the Iranian government proclaimed a period of 40 days of public mourning along with seven days of public holidays.
Adding to the conflict's human toll, the death count from an attack by US and Israeli forces on an elementary school for girls in Iran has reportedly reached 185, an increase from earlier figures of 95 and 118, as recovery efforts continue to uncover more victims.
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