(Damages inside Zabul provincial hospital)

(WHO supporting Zabul with emergency trauma kits)

Oct 6, Zabul - WHO continues to provide critical healthcare needs after explosives were detonated outside the provincial hospital in Zabul, Afghanistan, on September 19, 2019.

Zabul provincial hospital sustained heavy damages, with 15 people reportedly killed and 80 more injured. WHO responded quickly and provided ambulance support for transferring of critical patients to Kandahar, as well as emergency trauma kits and medicines.

"WHO is coordinating to make sure the health emergency needs in Zabul are met," says Dr David Lai, Afghanistan Health Cluster Coordinator, "We condemn all attacks on healthcare where not only are the healthcare providers the victims, but also people who rely on healthcare services."   

Together with partners, WHO is working with the local officials to further identify and prioritize healthcare needs and start to rebuild the hospital.