Shortage of oxygen and blood as hospitals come under attack

OXYGEN and blood are in “short supply” across Ukraine, the World Health Organisation has warned, as attacks on hospitals and health workers escalate.

The UN Health agency said yesterday that at least 16 attacks had taken place on healthcare services since Russia invaded on Feb 24. Hospitals and health facilities are coming under fire, with at least nine people killed in incidents so far, while ambulances have been commandeered and diverted.

“It should not need saying that health workers, hospitals and other medical facilities must never be a target at any time, including during crises and conflicts,” Dr Hans Kluge, head of the WHO Europe, said. “To date, we have 16 confirmed reports of attacks on health in Ukraine, and more are being verified.”

Tarik Jasarevic, WHO spokesman on the ground in Ukraine, added that healthcare facilities were under particular strain in the east of the country.

“Healthcare facilities need supplies, they need power, they need water,” he said. “I just talked to a doctor who is in touch with her colleagues in the most affected areas in the east and she was telling me that people cannot access health centres and hospitals because of security and damage to structures.

“And that’s not only the case with patients but also for health workers who are risking their lives to get to their workplace.”

The WHO said there was a “short supply” of essential medical supplies throughout Ukraine, including insulin, surgical supplies and blood. Those on the ground are also reporting a bottleneck in oxygen supplies, which will also affect the response to the pandemic.