Lebanon’s Health Minister Firass Abiad has reported that more than 40 rescuers and firefighters have been killed by Israeli fire over the past three days, after Israel invaded Lebanon.
In total, 97 paramedics and firefighters have been killed since fighting erupted along the border last October, with 188 others wounded.
The overall death toll in Lebanon has reached 1,974, including 127 children, while more than 9,350 people have been injured in the ongoing violence, according to Abiad.
Amid the rising toll, World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus revealed that 28 healthcare workers were killed in the last 24 hours due to Israeli air strikes and military invasion.
Many health workers have fled their posts, severely hampering trauma care and essential health services, Tedros said during an online briefing.
Efforts to deliver critical medical supplies to Lebanon have also been affected.
A large shipment of trauma and medical supplies scheduled for Friday has been delayed due to flight restrictions imposed by the ongoing conflict, the WHO chief added.