WHO condemns attack on health workers and Ambulance in Libya

The World Health Organization today condemned the attack on an ambulance in Tripoli, Libya, on Wednesday 8 May that left 3 health workers injured, one severely.

"This attack on an ambulance with visible logos is a shocking and intolerable violation of international humanitarian law," said Dr Syed Jaffar Hussain, WHO Representative in Libya.

"Not only did this attack injurekey personnel, but the ambulance itself was taken away, thereby deprivingpatients of future care."

"This flagrant breach of thebasic rules of warfare could jeopardize the operations of field hospitals andambulance teams, and deter dedicated health staff from performing theirlife-saving duties," said Dr Ahmed Al-Mandhari, WHO's Regional Directorfor the Eastern Mediterranean.

"WHO cannot accept any actionsthat put health workers in harm's way. Health staff in Libya are working tosave lives and must be allowed to work without additional risk to their safetyor well-being."