'Deeply worrisome and frightening': WHO says lost contact with besieged Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza

Calling it “deeply worrisome and frightening”, World Health Organisation (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus on Sunday that the organisation has lost communication with Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City amid horrifying reports of the hospital facing repeated attacks. Taking to X, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said, “@WHO has lost contact with its focal points in Al-Shifa Hospital in #Gaza, amid horrifying reports of the hospital facing repeated attacks. There are reports that some of those who fled the hospital have been shot at, wounded, or killed. The latest reports say the hospital was surrounded by tanks."

Deeply worrisome and frightening: @WHO has lost contact with its focal points in Al-Shifa Hospital in #Gaza, amid horrifying reports of the hospital facing repeated attacks.

There are reports that some of those who fled the hospital have been shot at, wounded, or killed.

The… https://t.co/buhccOjRqF

— Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus (@DrTedros) November 12, 2023

“WHO is gravely concerned about the safety of health workers, hundreds of sick and injured patients, including babies on life support, and displaced people who remain inside the hospital,” he added. Ghebreyesus further called for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza, as it is the only way to save lives and reduce the horrific levels of suffering. “WHO also calls for the sustained, orderly, unimpeded and safe medical evacuations of critically injured and sick patients,” the post added. Additionally, the WHO raised concerns about hostages, stating that all hostages must receive appropriate medical care and be released unconditionally. The war between Israel and Hamas has intensified in the last days, and reportedly, Israel said that Hamas’s terror group has been maintaining a major command centre as part of its vast network of tunnels, according to The Times of Israel. Meanwhile, Jerusalem has urged Al-Shifa Hospital’s staff and patients, along with other Gazans, to flee to the south to avoid being attacked as Israeli forces continue to attack Hamas in the Gaza Strip. According to The Times of Israel, there have been reports of gunfire targeting civilians seeking to exit the hospital to flee. Adding to that, Israel said that the shooters were Hamas gunmen; however, the terror group blames Israel. The organisation also called for the “sustained, orderly, unimpeded and safe medical evacuations of critically injured and sick patients into Egypt through the Rafah Border Crossing.” As the Hamas terror group has captivated over 230 hostages in the Gaza Strip, WHO said, “All hostages should receive appropriate medical care and be released unconditionally.” With inputs from agencies