The organization Doctors without borders (MSF) confirmed the “massive and widespread” destruction of the healthcare structure in Ukraine and denounced the “serious impediments” to medical care in Russian-occupied territories.
The NGO, which has only been allowed to operate in areas under Ukrainian control, urged both kyiv and Moscow to respect international humanitarian law and reminded them of their obligation to protect the population and civil infrastructures and guarantee access to medicines and vital medical supplies.
“Our teams witnessed firsthand houses, shops, playgrounds, schools and hospitals reduced to rubble. In some of the cities and towns where we worked, the destruction was absolute.. In 25 years of working in war zones, there may only be one or two cases where I have seen similar devastation: places like Mosul or Grozny. Along the 1,000 km front line in Ukraine, some areas have simply been wiped off the map“, he claimed Christopher Stokescoordinator of MSF programs in Ukraine.
Doctors without borders He also assured that, since mid-2022, the organization’s workers have witnessed the Attacks on the Ukrainian healthcare systemsuch as a bombardment in hospitals in Mykolaiv either apostolove and the presence of antipersonnel mines inside hospitals in areas formerly occupied by Russian troops such as Kherson, Donetsk either izium.
“The use of land mines is widespread in the front areas, but seeing them actually placed in medical structures is horrifying., an incredible act of inhumanity. Send a clear message to those who come for medicine or treatment: hospitals are not a safe place”, said the coordinator of MSF projects in the Donetsk region Vincenzo Porpiglia.
In addition, the same workers have discovered that sanitary buildings located in regions that had been occupied by Russia, such as Kherson and Donetskhad been looted and that medical vehicles such as ambulances had been destroyed or used as stores for weapons and explosives.
According to patients treated by MSF and their workers who lived under Russian occupation, people suffered “serious restrictions” in accessing assistance due to movement restrictions, the destruction of health structures or the “unpredictable” behavior of some Russian units, and they reported about the looting suffered by pharmacies and hospitals.
This Thursday, the International Committee of the Red Cross expressed his “major concern” for the suffering of civilians in the Ukrainian city of Bakhmutwhere most of the clashes between the Russian and Ukrainian Army have been concentrated in recent months.
“The situation is really difficult here; it’s loud and scary. Yesterday a missile flew over our heads. We are not living, we are surviving,” said Nikolai, a resident of the area, according to a Red Cross report.
The organization urged both sides to respect international humanitarian law so that the aid reaches the civilians who are still in the region and can access it under protection and without risk of being attacked.
Although most of the civilians have already been evacuated, about 10 percent of the population still remains in cities like Konstantinovkawhile 1,500 people and another 800 continue to live in the towns of Chasiv Yar and of Selidoverespectively.
In addition, the Red Cross stated that most are elderly people with disabilities or reduced mobility and some civilians who refuse to leave their homes.
(With information from Europa Press and EFE)
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Source-www.infobae.com