WHO chief tells UNSC one child killed in Gaza every 10 minutes

UNITED NATIONS: The World Health Organization (WHO) has painted a dire picture of the war-ravaged Gaza to the United Nations Security Council, revealing that on an average, a child is tragically killed every 10 minutes, nowhere and no one is safe in the bombardment-battered Palestinian enclave.

World Health Organization (WHO) Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told the United Nations Security Council on Friday that half of Gaza's 36 hospitals and two-thirds of its primary healthcare centres are non-operational, with those still functioning stretched beyond their capacities. "The healthcare system in Gaza is "on its knees"," he revealed.

"Hospital corridors crammed with the injured, the sick, the dying. Morgues overflowing. Surgery without anaesthesia. Tens of thousands of displaced people sheltering in hospitals," Tedros told the 15-member council.

The situation escalated following an October 7 attack in southern Israel, prompting it to vow to eradicate Hamas, the ruling power in Gaza. Israel claims that around 1,200 people were killed, and over 240 hostages taken in the attack. In response, Israel launched airstrikes, imposed a siege, and initiated a ground invasion of Gaza.

"On average, a child is killed every 10 minutes in Gaza," Tedros said.

Since October 7, the WHO has documented over 250 attacks on healthcare facilities in Gaza and the West Bank. In contrast, there have been 25 attacks on healthcare in Israel. Israel argues that Hamas conceals weapons in tunnels under hospitals, a charge vehemently denied by Hamas.

Israel's Ambassador to the UN, Gilad Erdan, informed the Security Council that a task force has been established to create hospitals in southern Gaza. On October 12, Israel ordered approximately 1.1 million people in Gaza to move south ahead of its ground invasion.

"Israel is in advanced talks with the United Arab Emirates, with the ICRC and with other European countries regarding the establishment of field-hospital and floating-hospital ships," Erdan said. "Israel facilitated the Jordanian airdrop of medical aid to hospitals in northern Gaza."

The United States is actively working to provide fuel to hospitals in Gaza, according to Deputy U.S. Ambassador to the UN Robert Wood. Wood emphasized the importance of respecting and protecting civilian and humanitarian facilities under international law.

Wood said Hamas had been using civilians as human shields.

"These cowardly tactics do not diminish Israel's responsibility to distinguish between civilians and terrorists in its fight against Hamas," he said. "The risks of harm to civilians at sites that Hamas is using for military purpose absolutely have to be considered when planning an operation."

During the Security Council meeting, a moment of silence was observed to honor civilians killed in both Israel and Gaza, as well as 101 individuals associated with the UN Palestinian refugee agency (UNRWA).