WHO chief begs Israel to show 'mercy' in Gaza
Fighting back tears, the head of the World Health Organization urged Israel to have "mercy" in the Gaza war and insisted peace would be in Israel's own interests.
In an emotional intervention at the WHO annual assembly, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the war was hurting Israel and would not bring a lasting solution.
"I can feel how people in Gaza would feel at the moment. I can smell it. I can visualise it. I can hear even the sounds. And this is because of PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder)," said Mr Tedros, 60, who has often recalled his own wartime upbringing in Ethiopia.
"You can imagine how people are suffering. It's really wrong to weaponise food. It's very wrong to weaponise medical supplies," he added.
The United Nations yesterday began distributing around 90 truckloads of aid which are the first deliveries into Gaza since Israel imposed a total blockade on 2 March.
Mr Tedros said only a political solution could bring a meaningful peace.
"A call for peace is actually in the best interests of Israel itself. I feel that the war is hurting Israel itself and it will not bring a lasting solution," he said.
"I ask if you can have mercy. It's good for you and good for the Palestinians. It's good for humanity," he added.
'Systematic' destruction
WHO emergencies director Michael Ryan said that 2.1 million people in Gaza were "in imminent danger of death".
"We need to end the starvation, we need to release all hostages and we need to resupply and bring the health system back online," he said.
"All hostages should be released. Their families are suffering. Their families are in pain," he added.
The WHO said Gazans were suffering acute shortages of food, water, medical supplies, fuel and shelter.
Four major hospitals have had to suspend medical services in the past week, due to their proximity to hostilities or evacuation zones, and attacks.
Only 19 of the Gaza Strip's 36 hospitals remain operational, with staff working in "impossible conditions", the UN health agency said in a statement.
"At least 94% of all hospitals in the Gaza Strip are damaged or destroyed," it said, while north Gaza "has been stripped of nearly all health care".
It said that across the Palestinian territory, only 2,000 hospital beds remained available - a figure "grossly insufficient to meet the current needs".
"The destruction is systematic. Hospitals are rehabilitated and resupplied, only to be exposed to hostilities or attacked again. This destructive cycle must end," it added.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Dublin Live
7 hours ago
- Dublin Live
Three new Covid symptoms flagged as NB.1.8.1 strain hits holiday hotspots
Health experts have pinpointed three key symptoms of the latest Covid strain that's hit Ireland and the UK, with signs that may differ from what we've typically come to expect from the virus. Despite it being over five years since the pandemic first shook the world, Covid-19 is still very much present, evolving into new variants as it continues to affect individuals globally. The most recent variant, dubbed NB.1.8.1, has spread in several countries, including major holiday destinations, after being identified earlier in January as a follow on from the Omicron variant. The Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC) has observed a surge in Covid cases linked to NB.1.8.1, jumping from 3.7 to 33 percent in the past five weeks. In addition, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has labelled it a "variant under monitoring" due to its rapid spreading, reports the Irish Mirror. While we've commonly associated Covid symptoms with respiratory issues like difficulty breathing and coughing, the symptoms of NB. 1.8. 1 are related to the digestive system. This strain now represents over 10% of sequenced Covid infections worldwide and has become the predominant strain in China and Hong Kong. As well as Ireland, this variant has also been detected in the UK, US, and Australia, not to mention several sought-after holiday destinations such as Egypt, Thailand, and the Maldives. Writing for The Conversation, Dr Lara Herrero, associate professor and virology research leader at Griffith University in Australia, explained that this variant could be faster spreading than others. She said: 'The evidence so far suggests NB.1.8.1 may spread more easily and may partially sidestep immunity from prior infections or vaccination. "These factors could explain its rise in sequencing data." However, she added: "But importantly, the WHO has not yet observed any evidence it causes more severe disease compared to other variants." The "classic" Covid symptoms like coughing, sore throat, aching body, and loss of taste or smell are well-known, but there might be less obvious signs associated with the NB. 1.8. 1 variant. "Reports suggest symptoms of NB.1.8.1 should align closely with other Omicron subvariants," Dr Herrero said. She also noted that some individuals might experience gastrointestinal symptoms. As reported by The Independent these symptoms could include: Diarrhoea Constipation Nausea This could mean that it is easier to mistake a Covid infection for a different illness. But Dr Herrero added that this variant could also be accompanied by a sore throat, fatigue, fever, mild cough, muscle aches and nasal congestion. Join our Dublin Live breaking news service on WhatsApp. Click this link to receive your daily dose of Dublin Live content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. For all the latest news from Dublin and surrounding areas visit our homepage.
Irish Daily Mirror
a day ago
- Irish Daily Mirror
Three new Covid symptoms flagged as NB.1.8.1 strain may be different
Experts have identified three important symptoms of the latest Covid strain to reach the UK. The latest signs to look out for may be different to typical virus expectations. While it has been over five years since the pandemic first made waves, coronavirus hasn't gone away and continues to impact people across the globe as it mutates into different variants. The latest strain, known as NB.1.8.1, has spread in several countries, including major holiday destinations, after being identified earlier in January as a follow on from the Omicron variant. The Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC) reports that Covid samples linked to NB.1.8.1 has risen from 3.7 to 33 percent in the past five weeks alone. In addition, it is also a "variant under monitoring" by the World Health Organisation (WHO) because of its rapid spreading, reports the Mirror. While Covid symptoms have been heavily associated with the respiratory system, such as struggling to breath and coughing, NB.1.8.1 symptoms are related to the digestive system. It now accounts for more than 10 per cent of sequenced Covid infections worldwide and is already the dominant strain in China and Hong Kong. The variant has also been detected in the UK, US and Australia, as well as a number of popular holiday destinations like Egypt, Thailand, and the Maldives. Writing for The Conversation, Dr Lara Herrero, associate professor and virology research leader at Griffith University in Australia, explained that this variant could be faster spreading than others. She said: 'The evidence so far suggests NB.1.8.1 may spread more easily and may partially sidestep immunity from prior infections or vaccination. 'These factors could explain its rise in sequencing data.' However, she added: 'But importantly, the WHO has not yet observed any evidence it causes more severe disease compared to other variants.' Many of us are aware of the 'classic' symptoms of a Covid injection, such as a cough, sore throat, an aching body and loss of taste or smell. However, there could be some lesser-known symptoms linked to the NB.1.8.1. 'Reports suggest symptoms of NB.1.8.1 should align closely with other Omicron subvariants,' Dr Herrero said. She added that gastrointestinal symptoms could occur in some cases. As reported by The Independent, these could include: This could mean that it is easier to mistake a Covid infection for a different illness. But Dr Herrero added that this variant could also be accompanied by a sore throat, fatigue, fever, mild cough, muscle aches and nasal congestion. While there are no longer any self-isolation mandates in the UK, the NHS recommends avoiding contact with others if you experience symptoms. It says you should try to stay at home and avoid contact with other people if you or your child has symptoms and either: You can go back to your normal activities when you feel better or do not have a high temperature. But if you test positive, you should:
Irish Independent
2 days ago
- Irish Independent
Gaza doctors give their own blood to patients after scores gunned down seeking aid
©Reuters Doctors in the Gaza Strip are donating their own blood to save their patients after scores of Palestinians were gunned down while trying to get food aid, the medical charity Doctors Without Borders (MSF) said on Thursday. Around 100 MSF staff protested outside the UN headquarters in Geneva against an aid distribution system in Gaza run by an Israeli-backed private company, which has led to chaotic scenes of mass carnage. Register for free to read this story Register and create a profile to get access to our free stories. You'll also unlock more free stories each week.
