WHO Regional Director ’s remarks at the regional press briefing on health emergencies

22 November 2023 – Thank you for joining us today for our regional update on the health emergencies in the occupied Palestinian territory and Sudan.  Before I begin my remarks, I’d like to take a moment to remember Dima Alhaj, our young WHO colleague who was tragically killed yesterday when her parents’ home was bombed. Dima’s husband, 6-month-old baby boy and more than 50 other family members who had been sheltering together were also killed in the bombing. Dima joined WHO in 2019 as part of the WHO-supported trauma team at the Gaza Strip’s Limb Reconstruction Centre. We are all devastated by this shocking news and extend our deepest condolences to Dima’s remaining family and to her friends and colleagues.  As we grieve the shocking loss of Dima and her family, we are reminded of the senseless nature of this conflict. We are reminded that in Gaza today, nowhere is safe for civilians, including our own colleagues and other members of the United Nations family. Civilians are losing their lives in their homes, in camps and shelters, in schools and even while receiving care in hospitals.  The death and maiming of innocent civilians, more than half of whom are women and children, must stop. They have done nothing to deserve the unimaginable hardships they are now being forced to endure. The Read more...
Source: WHO EMRO News - Category: Middle East Health Source Type: news