WHO Says 28 Health Workers Killed in Lebanon by Israeli Strikes over 24 hours

Smoke billows after an Israeli air strike on a village in southern Lebanon, amid cross-border hostilities between Hezbollah and Israel, as seen from northern Israel, October 3, 2024. REUTERS/Jim Urquhart
Smoke billows after an Israeli air strike on a village in southern Lebanon, amid cross-border hostilities between Hezbollah and Israel, as seen from northern Israel, October 3, 2024. REUTERS/Jim Urquhart
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WHO Says 28 Health Workers Killed in Lebanon by Israeli Strikes over 24 hours

Smoke billows after an Israeli air strike on a village in southern Lebanon, amid cross-border hostilities between Hezbollah and Israel, as seen from northern Israel, October 3, 2024. REUTERS/Jim Urquhart
Smoke billows after an Israeli air strike on a village in southern Lebanon, amid cross-border hostilities between Hezbollah and Israel, as seen from northern Israel, October 3, 2024. REUTERS/Jim Urquhart

The World Health Organization chief said on Thursday that 28 healthcare workers had been killed over the past 24 hours in Lebanon, where Israel has launched airstrikes.

"Many (other) health workers are not reporting to duty and fled the areas where they work due to bombardments," Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told an online press briefing.

"This is severely limiting the provision of mass trauma management and continuity of health services," he said, Reuters reported.

The global health agency will not be able to deliver a large planned shipment of trauma and medical supplies to the country on Friday due to flight restrictions, he added.



EU Announces Extra 30 Mln Euros Humanitarian Aid for Lebanon

A woman walks past damaged buildings and debris in the aftermath of a strike, amid ongoing hostilities between Hezbollah and Israeli forces, in Beirut’s southern suburbs, Lebanon October 3, 2024. REUTERS/Mohamed Azakir
A woman walks past damaged buildings and debris in the aftermath of a strike, amid ongoing hostilities between Hezbollah and Israeli forces, in Beirut’s southern suburbs, Lebanon October 3, 2024. REUTERS/Mohamed Azakir
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EU Announces Extra 30 Mln Euros Humanitarian Aid for Lebanon

A woman walks past damaged buildings and debris in the aftermath of a strike, amid ongoing hostilities between Hezbollah and Israeli forces, in Beirut’s southern suburbs, Lebanon October 3, 2024. REUTERS/Mohamed Azakir
A woman walks past damaged buildings and debris in the aftermath of a strike, amid ongoing hostilities between Hezbollah and Israeli forces, in Beirut’s southern suburbs, Lebanon October 3, 2024. REUTERS/Mohamed Azakir

The European Commission announced on Thursday an extra 30 million euros ($33.1 million) in humanitarian aid for Lebanon, which has been hit by clashes between Israel and Hezbollah.

"I am extremely concerned by the constant escalation of tensions in the Middle East. All parties must do their outmost to protect the lives of innocent civilians," said European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.

This comes in addition to the 10 million euros already announced on Sept. 29 and brings total EU humanitarian assistance to the country to over 104 million euros this year.

Israel and Hezbollah have traded fire across the Lebanon border almost daily since the day after Hamas’ cross-border attack on Oct. 7, 2023.

Israel has mostly concentrated its airstrikes in south and eastern Lebanon, as well as the southern suburbs of Beirut where Hezbollah has a strong presence, but its attacks have spanned the entire country and killed many civilians.