WHO Director-General Dr Tedros began his address to the UNSC by expressing grave concern for the health and well-being of Israeli hostages in Gaza, many of whom are elderly, children and have urgent medical needs, and drew attention to hospitals in Gaza that have been the target of Israeli attacks. "It is impossible to describe the situation on the ground. Hospital corridors are crammed with the wounded, the sick and the dying, morgues are overflowing, operations without anaesthesia, tens of thousands of displaced people taking refuge in hospitals," Dr Tedros said.

'A CHILD IS KILLED EVERY 10 MINUTES'

Dr Tedros pointed out that more than 10,800 people have been killed in Gaza until yesterday and almost 70 percent of them are women and children. "On average, a child is killed every 10 minutes in Gaza. 1.5 million people have been displaced and are seeking shelter wherever they can find it. But nowhere and no one is safe."

'180 WOMEN GIVE BIRTH EVERY DAY'

Director-General Tedros said that WHO medical teams, together with medical teams from other organisations, are providing care for 27,000 life-threatening wounded Gazans, as well as meeting the regular health needs of more than 2 million people. "More than 180 women give birth every day in Gaza. There are 9 thousand patients undergoing cancer treatment. And there are 350 thousand patients with diabetes, heart disease and hypertension."

Dr Tedros stated that WHO determined that 5 hospitals were attacked 5 times in one day and 4 hospitals were out of service after the attacks in the last 48 hours. In his speech, the Director General drew attention to the attacks on hospitals and health workers and said: "More than 100 of our UN colleagues have been killed and this number is increasing. As we speak, there are reports of gunfire outside al-Shifa and Rantisi hospitals."

'THE UNGMC IS NOT SERVING THE PURPOSE FOR WHICH IT WAS ESTABLISHED'

Stating that the UNSC was established for the security of the people, Dr Tedros said: "This is what this council was established for. But this crisis once again demonstrates the need to reform the Security Council. When I entered the room, I felt nostalgia because I used to come here when I was Foreign Minister. With all due respect, I have long held the view that the Security Council no longer serves the purpose for which it was established. It represents the realpolitik of the Second World War, not that of the 21st century."