Russian Strike Destroys World Health Organization Warehouse Holding Medical Supplies for Front Line Facilities

World Health Organization (WHO) humanitarian warehouse in Dnipro, Ukraine, was destroyed in a Russian strike on August 7, as reported by WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

According to him, a WHO staff member and several drivers had been at the warehouse earlier that day to help evacuate humanitarian supplies. The team managed to remove 130 of the approximately 300 pallets stored at the facility before leaving the area ahead of the attack.

The warehouse contained medical supplies intended for healthcare facilities near the frontline, primarily emergency health supplies provided by the WHO.

Ghebreyesus condemned the attack and called for greater protection of healthcare facilities and humanitarian infrastructure.

“I cannot say loudly enough: attacks on health care MUST STOP. Otherwise, people are deprived of lifesaving healthcare,” Ghebreyesus said, warning that such strikes deprive people of access to lifesaving medical care.

He stressed that international humanitarian law requires healthcare to be protected even during armed conflicts, adding that “even wars have rules” and that health must be among the areas safeguarded.

Overall, since the beginning of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the World Health Organization has verified 3,148 attacks on healthcare facilities across the country. According to the WHO, the attacks have killed 240 people and injured another 1,055.

Separately, the WHO is preparing for the possibility of a nuclear-related emergency as tensions in the Middle East continue to escalate. The scenarios include potential attacks on nuclear facilities or the use of nuclear weapons.

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