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WHO chief tedros says 12 dead in strike on primary healthcare center in lebanon
Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on March 14, 2026
1 min readLast updated: March 14, 2026
Quick Summary
WHO chief Tedros confirmed that 12 health workers — doctors, paramedics, and nurses — were killed in a strike on the Bourj Qalaouiyeh primary healthcare center in southern Lebanon. He also noted two paramedics killed earlier in an attack on another facility in Al Sowana, underscoring a grave escalat
WHO Confirms 12 Dead in Bourj Qalaouiyeh Healthcare Center Strike, Lebanon
Details of the Healthcare Center Strike and Regional Impact
WHO Statement on the Bourj Qalaouiyeh Attack
March 14 (Reuters) - The head of the World Health Organization said on Saturday that it has verified 12 doctors, paramedics and nurses were killed in a strike on the Bourj Qalaouiyeh primary healthcare center in Lebanon late on Friday.
Director-General's Response and Additional Attacks
"The killings in the last 24 hours of 14 health workers in southern Lebanon mark a tragic development in the escalating Middle East crisis," Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said in a post on X, noting that earlier in the day two paramedics had been killed in an attack on a health facility in Al Sowana.
Context: Ongoing Conflict Between Israel and Hezbollah
Israel has launched an extensive bombing campaign against the powerful Lebanese armed group Hezbollah, which has killed more than 770 people and displaced hundreds of thousands more, while Hezbollah has fired hundreds of rockets across the border.
Reporting Credits
(Reporting by Ananya Palyekar in Bengaluru; Editing by Chizu Nomiyama)
Key Takeaways
- •The verified strike on Bourj Qalaouiyeh resulted in 12 medical personnel killed, adding to two earlier deaths in Al Sowana — marking 14 health worker fatalities within 24 hours, according to WHO Director-General Tedros.
- •This follows a sustained and disproportionately deadly pattern of attacks on healthcare in Lebanon: nearly half of recorded healthcare attacks since October 2023 have been fatal, the highest rate globally, the WHO reports (apnews.com).
- •The intensifying conflict between Israel and Hezbollah has severely impacted Lebanon’s health system — including forced closures of primary care centers and the killing of dozens of health workers — severely undermining medical access during the crisis (who.int).
References
Frequently Asked Questions about WHO chief Tedros says 12 dead in strike on primary healthcare center in Lebanon
1How many health workers were killed in the Lebanon healthcare center strike?
Twelve doctors, paramedics, and nurses were killed in the strike on Bourj Qalaouiyeh primary healthcare center in Lebanon.
2Who confirmed the deaths in the Lebanon primary healthcare center strike?
The head of the World Health Organization, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, confirmed the deaths.
3What group was targeted in Israel's bombing campaign mentioned in the article?
Israel's bombing campaign targeted the Lebanese armed group Hezbollah.
4How many people have been killed and displaced due to the conflict in Lebanon according to the article?
More than 770 people have been killed and hundreds of thousands displaced.
5When did the strike on the Bourj Qalaouiyeh primary healthcare center occur?
The strike occurred late on Friday, as reported on March 14.
