United Nations, March 31 Amid the Middle East hostilities, UN humanitarian workers pointed to a sharp increase in attacks on healthcare in Lebanon and growing obstacles for humanitarian operations in the Gaza Strip.
The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said that attacks on healthcare facilities, ambulances, and medical personnel in Lebanon have increased at an alarming rate.
The World Health Organization (WHO) reported seven incidents over the weekend alone, which resulted in at least nine health workers being killed while on duty.
In southern Lebanon, OCHA said that attacks targeted ambulances, including vehicles transporting casualties from an earlier attack in the town of Kfar Sir in the Nabatieh governorate.
Since the escalation began, OCHA said that 87 attacks on healthcare have been recorded, resulting in the deaths of 52 health workers and the injuries of 126 others.
In a joint statement issued over the weekend, UN's deputy special coordinator and humanitarian coordinator for Lebanon, Imran Riza, and WHO Representative in Lebanon, Abdinasir Abubakar, called for the protection of health workers and first responders, stating that medical personnel and facilities must never be targeted.
The office said that Lebanese authorities reported at least 96 deaths over the weekend, bringing the total number of deaths since the escalation began to 1,238, with more than 3,500 injured.
OCHA said that despite deteriorating security conditions, the office and its partners continue to work closely with the government to reach people in need. WHO and health partners have provided more than 33,500 medical consultations to displaced people and delivered essential medicines to over 22,500 people.
In the occupied Palestinian territories, OCHA said that lethal attacks affecting civilians continue in both Gaza and the West Bank, as restrictions on humanitarian operations continue to mount.
Over the weekend, airstrikes and shelling reportedly hit residential areas in Gaza. In the West Bank, OCHA recorded reports of fatal shootings by Israeli forces and attacks linked to Israeli settlers.
International non-governmental organizations (NGOs) said Monday that they intend to file a petition of appeal with the Israeli High Court of Justice, challenging a new Israeli NGO registration system, which they say further restricts their ability to operate in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories.
OCHA said that international NGOs play a critical role in the humanitarian response, collectively delivering around $1 billion in assistance each year in the territories. The new registration requirements are among several measures undermining people's access to humanitarian services.
The office called on Israeli authorities to facilitate the rapid and unimpeded passage of humanitarian relief, to reverse policies that obstruct humanitarian operations, and to ensure that humanitarian organizations can operate in line with humanitarian principles, Xinhua news agency reported.
OCHA said that civilians must always be protected, and that in the context of law enforcement, lethal force must be used only as a last resort. Perpetrators of unlawful attacks must be held accountable.