On Wednesday, Ukrainian officials accused Russia of hitting a maternity and children's hospital in the city of Mariupol, killing three people and wounding some 17 others, the latest in a series of attacks against health care since the Russian invasion began on Feb. 24.
The World Health Organization has so far verified 24 attacks against health care facilities, ambulances, and health workers in the country.
Health and human rights organizations have condemned the attacks and expressed concerns about the impact on Ukraine’s health system, which is already under “severe pressure,” according to Dr. Hans Kluge, WHO’s regional director for Europe. They have called for all parties to respect international humanitarian law and not to make health workers or medical facilities a target amid the war.
About the author
Jenny Lei Ravelo@JennyLeiRavelo
Jenny Lei Ravelo is a Devex Senior Reporter based in Manila. She covers global health, with a particular focus on the World Health Organization, and other development and humanitarian aid trends in Asia Pacific. Prior to Devex, she wrote for ABS-CBN, one of the largest broadcasting networks in the Philippines, and was a copy editor for various international scientific journals. She received her journalism degree from the University of Santo Tomas.