KYIV, July 8 (Reuters) – A missile strike hit Okhmatdyt Children’s Hospital in Kyiv on July 8, causing significant damage to one of Ukraine’s foremost medical facilities for children.
Okhmatdyt Children’s Hospital, a critical center for treating severe medical conditions like cancer and kidney disease, suffered major damage in the blast. The attack devastated essential departments, including surgical, oncological, and intensive care units. The country’s sole laboratory for blood diseases and cancer also incurred damage. Additionally, the hospital’s toxicology and traumatology buildings were completely destroyed.
At the time of the strike, 627 children were receiving treatment at Okhmatdyt. In the chaos that followed, 94 children were transported to other medical institutions across Kyiv. The missile attack resulted in the deaths of two adults, including a doctor, and left 50 people wounded, among them eight children.
A subsequent strike in Kyiv partially demolished another building housing the Isida maternity hospital and Adonis medical center. This attack claimed the lives of five doctors and two patients, and injured one health worker.
Attacks on healthcare facilities constitute a breach of international humanitarian and human rights laws. Such assaults disrupt emergency and routine medical services, causing potentially life-threatening delays in treatment. For patients with chronic conditions, these interruptions can lead to significantly worsened health outcomes.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Health Cluster team, there have been 186 verified attacks on healthcare facilities in Ukraine between January 1 and July 10, 2024. These assaults have resulted in 27 deaths and 157 injuries among healthcare workers and patients. Since the conflict’s escalation in February 2022, a total of 1,885 attacks on healthcare have been verified, causing 157 deaths and 435 injuries.
In response to the Okhmatdyt attack, the Health Cluster, WHO, UNICEF, and other health partners continue to support the Ukraine Ministry of Health. The collaboration and coordinated assistance through the Health Cluster’s dedicated channel are crucial for managing the immediate and long-term impacts of these attacks.
The global community stands in solidarity with Ukraine, condemning these violations and emphasizing the urgent need for protection and support for healthcare facilities and workers in conflict zones.
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