Iranian Red Crescent calls on WHO to condemn, act against US-Israeli strikes on medical infrastructure

The Iranian Red Crescent Society (IRCS) has called on the World Health Organization (WHO) to condemn ongoing US-Israeli strikes on Iran’s medical infrastructure, urging swift action to halt the aggression.

In a letter to WHO Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus on Monday, the head of the IRCS, Pir-Hossein Kolivand, expressed his grave concerns over relentless strikes by the United States and Israel on Iran’s medical infrastructure, categorically condemning them.

Since the onset of the unprovoked war of aggression by a US-Israeli military coalition on Iran on February 28, according to Kolivand, 292 hospitals, medical centers, pharmacies and IRCS branches have sustained damage or have been demolished across the country.

At least 22 medical staff and medical workers have been killed and 113 others sustained injuries during this period, he further noted, adding that 48 ambulances and rescue operation vehicles were destroyed or damaged.

“The damaged hospitals include Gandhi, Motahhari, Yas, Arman, Seyedalshohada, Khatam, Roozbeh, Arash, Taleqani, Razi, and Al Zahra” in Tehran, the letter read.

Kolivand also noted that of all hospitals in the capital, 13 are fully operating, five are partially operating, 13 are out of service, and seven of them have been evacuated, adding that 17 emergency relief centers and IRCS branches have been destroyed, and the IRCS’s comprehensive rehabilitation center has been severely damaged.

The IRCS head further stressed that the strikes are a flagrant violation of international humanitarian law, including four Geneva Conventions and additional protocols, urging the WHO to condemn the attacks and launch an independent investigation into the hostilities.

Kolivand also called on the world body to provide necessary support for rebuilding the infrastructure and protection for the lives of medical staff.

He also warned that any silence on the matter or delay in halting such attacks would endanger the lives of civilians and undermine the efficiency of international humanitarian law.

In conclusion, the IRCS stressed that it would provide the WHO with supporting evidence and documents on request.

On Sunday, the Medical Council of the Islamic Republic of Iran (IRIMC) urged the WHO for the expulsion of the US and Israel from the world body and other major international health organizations over their strikes on Iran’s hospitals and care homes.

Iran has spared corresponding facilities related to the US in the Persian Gulf and in the Israeli-occupied territories from its reprisal attacks.

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