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Rabat – At a special session of the Executive Board of the World Health Organization (WHO) in Geneva on December 10, Morocco affirmed the need for de-escalation and the safeguarding of civilian lives and hospital structures in Gaza.
Morocco’s Ambassador Omar Zniber underscored the urgent need for concrete measures to safeguard civilian lives and hospital facilities in the war-torn region.
The region, particularly Gaza, is grappling with a dire humanitarian and healthcare crisis following weeks of Israeli aggression with over 449 attacks on health facilities in Gaza and the West Bank amid relentless Israeli bombardment.
Since it began two months ago, Israel’s bloody war against civilians in Gaza has taken a staggering toll: some 18,000 Palestinians have lost their lives, including 8,000 children, and at least 49,000 have been wounded, including over 8,600 children and 6,000 women.
Zniber, addressing the WHO Executive Council, stressed the organization’s pivotal role in mitigating the devastating effects of the conflict, emphasizing the necessity of mobilizing essential resources to address immediate healthcare needs.
Additionally, he highlighted the paramount importance of rehabilitation and reconstruction efforts for the healthcare system in the occupied Palestinian territory.
“As we stand at this decisive turning point, it requires unwavering firmness and responsibility from all to halt Israeli aggressions,” Zniber stated, underscoring the collective obligation to uphold international humanitarian law.
Morocco’s stance reflects the country’s resolute commitment to urgently address the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and advocate for peace in the region.
Read also: Palestinian Factions Call for Global Strike in Solidarity with Gaza
The session marked a significant milestone as, for the first time since the commencement of the Israeli bloody war on Gaza, a resolution by consensus was adopted to address the catastrophic humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip.
The resolution, focusing on the “immediate, sustained, and unimpeded passage of humanitarian relief,” highlights the need for access for medical personnel.
It calls on all parties involved to fulfill their obligations under international law and reaffirms the imperative adherence to international humanitarian law for the protection of civilians and medical personnel during armed conflicts.
Zniber stressed the importance of increased coordination with international humanitarian and development actors, advocating for a collaborative effort to provide urgent humanitarian assistance to the Palestinian people.
Furthermore, he called for strengthened partnerships with other United Nations agencies, including UNRWA, and partners in the occupied Palestinian territory.
In his closing remarks, WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus acknowledged that while the resolution was a starting point, it did not fully resolve the crisis.
