Kiev’s Ohmatdyt children’s hospital, the country’s main paediatric hospital, and the hospital housing the rehabilitation centre for war-wounded run by Mehad, located nearby, were the target of missile attacks on the morning of Monday 8 July. So far, 41 people have been killed and 149 injured, including children, while other victims are still buried under the rubble. Mehad condemns these attacks on health centres, in defiance of international humanitarian law.
Photo MFA Ukraine
On the morning of Monday 8 July, missile attacks on the Ukrainian capital targeted the districts of Solomyansky, Holosiyivsky, Dniprovsky, Darnytsky and Desniansky in Kiev. Several of the attacks targeted hospitals.
The hospital housing the rehabilitation centre for war-wounded run by Mehad was hit, killing several patients.
“We heard an initial explosion, quite far away. Then a second explosion sounded, much closer, and all the windows exploded. All of a sudden, the ceilings collapsed on us”, says Taras Chechel, head of Mehad’s physiotherapy department, “The team was in a state of shock. And for the patients, reliving the trauma of an attack, for those who have already survived an event of this type, is very difficult.
The nearby Ohmatdyt Children’s Hospital, the country’s main paediatric hospital, was also badly hit, particularly the building housing the oncology department and the dialysis centre. Several children were among the victims, and a doctor was killed, while other victims are still under the rubble.
Dr Mego Terzian, Director General of the NGO Mehad and former President of MSF (2013-2022), condemned these attacks on health centres . “There is no justification for attacking war-wounded and sick children”, he said indignantly. ” These attacks, which we condemn in the strongest possible terms, are a clear violation of international humanitarian law”.
