Russian Attack On Ukrainian Health Facilities Termed as ‘Unconscionable Act of Cruelty’

Last updated on March 15th, 2022 at 11:46 am

Russia – Attack by Russia on Ukrainian healthcare facilities is being termed as ‘an act of unconscionable cruelty’ by top UN officials, a report has confirmed. As the onslaught on Ukraine reached its fourth week, there have been incidents of bombing of hospitals and maternity facilities in Ukraine.

According to official estimates, some 31 attacks have been reported on health care facilities itself. This has been documented by the World Health Organization. These incidents have killed and injured civilians, as well as destroyed facilities and ambulances, disrupting access to essential health services.

Being considered as nothing short of violation of international law and war crimes, the UN has vehemently said that these horrific attacks are leading to hopeless “killing and causing serious injuries to patients and health workers, destroying vital health infrastructure, and forcing thousands to forgo accessing health services despite catastrophic needs”, the heads of UNICEF, the World Health Organization (WHO) and the UN Population Found (UNFPA) declared in a joint statement published on the United Nations official website.

It has been rightly said that such actions are nothing but heinous acts of ‘unconscionable cruelty.’ Attacking the most vulnerable – babies, children, pregnant women, and those suffering from illness and disease, as well as health workers risking their safety to save lives is completely intolerable.

Healthcare needs are critical in Ukraine at the moment. According to official estimates, more than 4,300 births have occurred in Ukraine since the start of the war and 80,000 Ukrainian women are expected to give birth in the next three months while oxygen and medical supplies, including for the management of pregnancy complications, are running dangerously low. “The health care system in Ukraine is clearly under significant strain, and its collapse would be a catastrophe. Every effort must be made to prevent this from happening…International humanitarian and human rights law must be upheld, and the protection of civilians must be our top priority”, the UN top officials warned.