The World Health Organization said this week it was working to rebuild Ukraine’s health system, citing unprecedented attacks on health facilities. The system has suffered greatly since Russia invaded the country six months before her.

According to the United Nations Health Organization, 173 attacks on health facilities have been confirmed in the past six months, killing nearly 100 people and injuring 134 others.

WHO Ukraine representative Jarno Habicht told reporters this week that casualties continue to rise and will continue to do so until Russia ends the war.

“These attacks are not only a violation of international law, but also a barrier for many in need of care because we are experiencing war,” he said. “So it’s not just supplies and stuff that we need to support, we need to make sure services are available. are in imminent danger.”

The United Nations says more than 5,500 civilians have been killed in the war and about 8,000 injured, including about 1,000 children. On average, about five children are killed or injured every day, according to UNICEF. Children’s agencies say this is often due to the indiscriminate use of weapons in populated areas.

Speaking via video link from an air raid shelter in Dnipro in central Ukraine, Habicht said many people were on the move and many were suffering and in need of care.

He said the WHO is accelerating its efforts to reach millions of people across the country and provide humanitarian assistance. At the same time, he said the WHO is working with national and local authorities to rebuild Ukraine’s shattered health system.

“Reconstructing the health system must be part of a national recovery across all sectors,” he said. “So we are now looking to the humanitarian response and recovery that we are seeing in the health sector and beyond.”

To date, WHO has delivered over 1,300 tons of medical supplies to Ukraine, including medicines for diabetes, cardiovascular disorders and other non-communicable diseases.

Support is also provided for mental health, trauma and emergencies, Habicht said. He also said that the COVID-19 vaccine had been delivered to Ukraine in recent weeks in light of rising mortality from the virus across the country.