WHO warns of escalating health crisis in West Bank

Attacks on health infrastructure, growing restrictions obstructing access to care

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GENEVA - The World Health Organisation on June 14 decried an escalating health crisis in the occupied West Bank, where growing restrictions, violence and attacks on health infrastructure are increasingly obstructing access to care.

In a statement, the UN health agency said it was calling "for the immediate and active protection of civilians and healthcare in the West Bank".

It noted that a spike in violence in the West Bank, including in East Jerusalem, since the war in Gaza erupted on Oct 7 had, by June 10, left 521 Palestinians dead, including 126 children.

Palestinian officials have put the West Bank death toll even higher, saying at least 545 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli troops or settlers since the Gaza war broke out.