Ukraine Children’s Hospital Hit in Russian Strike
Project HOPE condemns Russian attacks on civilians in Ukraine
Washington, DC (8 July 2024) – Today, deadly Russian missile strikes terrorized civilians across Ukraine, claiming at least 22 lives and striking Ukraine’s largest children’s hospital. The large-scale aerial bombardment took place during rush hour and impacted multiple cities where Project HOPE works, including Kyiv, Dnipro, and Kramatorsk. Search and rescue and evacuation operations are ongoing at Ohmatdyt Children’s Hospital in Kyiv after one of the strikes hit a ward where around 20 children were being treated, resulting in 16 injuries and two deaths. A doctor was among those killed and seven of the injured are children. In another district of Kyiv, a medical center was damaged, reportedly killing seven people and injuring three.
In response, Project HOPE’s President and CEO, Rabih Torbay, said:
“Russia’s latest assault on Ukraine – including striking a crowded children’s hospital – is unconscionable and serves as a grim reminder of the horrors that Ukrainians have been experiencing for the past 865 days. Russia has repeatedly struck health facilities in violation of international humanitarian law, but it is particularly abhorrent to see Ukraine’s largest children’s hospital in rubble and flames as emergency responders race against time to rescue anyone who may be trapped. Hospitals should never be targets. Project HOPE’s teams are continuing to work in coordination with our partners across Ukraine to understand how we can best support impacted communities.”
Project HOPE has been working in Ukraine since the full-scale Russian invasion in February 2022, operating mobile medical units and ambulances, reconstructing health facilities, providing mental health and psychosocial support, operating safe spaces, distributing essential supplies, and training health workers.
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