We are horrified to learn that Al-Awda Hospital in the north of Gaza, an ActionAid partner, has been bombed today. Three doctors were killed after the fourth floor of the building was hit, Al-Awda has confirmed.
In a statement, Al-Awda said that it “adhered to the medical and health principles and practices in times of conflict and war” and that “only medical personnel, patients, and the injured” were inside the hospital. It called on the international community to provide a safe corridor for the evacuation of patients and medical staff.
While we are still awaiting further information, our position remains. The bombing of Al-Awda is yet another potential breach of international humanitarian law in a crisis where the rights of patients to access lifesaving care are being violated daily. Healthcare workers, ambulances, and hospitals are never a legitimate target – they must be respected and protected under international law.
Despite running out of fuel more than one week ago, the hospital has been continuing to treat sick and injured people in the north of Gaza. It is the only remaining hospital in the north to provide maternity services, and – against all odds – has been delivering around 20 babies per day despite lacking sufficient medical supplies and equipment.
We reiterate, once again, our calls for an immediate ceasefire to end the suffering of the people of Gaza.
ENDS
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Spokespeople are available:
- Meredith Slater, Director of Development for ActionAid USA
- Riham Jafari, Coordinator of Advocacy and Communication for ActionAid Palestine
About ActionAid
ActionAid is a global federation working with more than 15 million people living in more than 40 of the world’s poorest countries. We want to see a just, fair, and sustainable world in which everybody enjoys the right to a life of dignity and freedom from poverty and oppression. We work to achieve social justice and gender equality and to eradicate poverty.