UN Human Rights Spokesperson Jeremy Laurence with Danielle Bell, head Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine, on strike of hospital in Ukraine
/
4:16
/
MP4
/
620.7 MB
Transcripts
Download

Edited News | OHCHR , UNOG

UN Human Rights Spokesperson Jeremy Laurence and Danielle Bell, head of Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine, on strike against hospital in Kyiv.

UN Human Rights Spokesperson Jeremy Laurence made the following comment on the latest attacks in Ukraine, specifically on the children’s hospitals in Kyiv.

“Last night, the UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk described as abominable the deadly blasts at two Kyiv hospitals that treat children and women,” Jeremy Laurence said.

The Russian Federation launched a wave of strikes on densely populated areas of Ukraine, including the cities of Kryvi Rih, Pokrovsk and Dnipro. As well as the hospitals, we have received reports key energy infrastructure facilities were hit.

The High Commissioner deplored the attacks, and called on those with influence to do everything in their power to ensure these attacks stop immediately.

“Civilians must be protected, and the laws of war strictly adhered to. There must be prompt, thorough and independent investigations into these latest grave attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure, and those responsible must be held to account,” Laurence said.

Danielle Bell, head of our Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine, joined the briefing from Kyiv.

I will begin with the attack on Okhmatdyt children's hospital because this is one of the most egregious attacks that we've seen since the onset of the full-scale invasion,” she said.

Okhmatdyt is a children's specialist hospital where families from across the country bring their children for treatment of serious medical conditions such as cancer and kidney disease. My team spent most of yesterday at the incident site yesterday speaking with medical staff, parents of children and residents that live in the area surrounding the hospital,” Bell said.

Analysis of the video footage and assessment made at the incident site indicates a high likelihood that the children's hospital suffered a direct hit rather than receiving damages due to an intercepted weapons system. Of course, as was said earlier, this must be investigated. At the time of the attack, 670 child patients, mainly inpatients, were there together with more than a thousand medical staff,” she said.

The attack also damaged the intensive care, surgical and oncology wards. And 600 children had been transferred to other hospitals in Kyiv city and areas in Kyiv province. This terrible attack shows that nowhere is safe in Ukraine. Yesterday's massive attack across the country involved at least 38 different cruise missiles and ballistic rockets of various types, as well as drones in multiple waves throughout the day,” she said.

Asked for more details on it being a possible direct hit, Bell said:We haven't determined. We've assessed the factors that suggest the likelihood that it was a direct hit of a KH-101 missile launched by the Russian Federation. The factors suggesting that it was a direct hit are based on video footage, which shows the technical specification of the type of weapon that was used. It shows the weapon directly impacting the hospital rather than being intercepted in the air. And thirdly, my military, our military expert, visited the site yesterday and observed damages at the site that were consistent with a direct hit,” said Bell.

It can take many years, as we've seen in other contexts. So what's absolutely crucial is that we keep attention on the situation in Ukraine, on the terrible attacks that are taking place across the country every day. And we will continue from our side the meticulous documentation that we are doing on the ground every day to ensure that accountability one day will be a reality,” Bell added.

ENDS

For more information and media requests, please contact:

In Geneva

Jeremy Laurence - +41 22 917 9383 / jeremy.laurence@un.org

Liz Throssell - + 41 22 917 9296 / elizabeth.throssell@un.org

Tag and share

Twitter @UNHumanRights

Facebook unitednationshumanrights

Instagram @unitednationshumanrights

STORY: UN Human Rights Spokesperson Jeremy Laurence and Danielle Bell, head of our Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine, on strike against hospital in Kyiv

TRT: 04:16

SOURCE: UNOG/OHCHR
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: English/NATS
ASPECT RATIO: 16:9
DATELINE: 09 July 2024 GENEVA, SWITZERLAND

SHOTLIST

1. Exterior shots : Palais des Nations

2. Interior shot : Briefing room

3. SOUNDBITE (English)— Jeremy Laurence, Spokesperson for the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR): “Last night, the UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk described as abominable the deadly blasts at two Kyiv hospitals that treat children and women.”

4. Cutaways: Briefing room

5. SOUNDBITE (English)— Danielle Bell, head of our Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine (OHCHR): “Civilians must be protected, and the laws of war strictly adhered to. There must be prompt, thorough and independent investigations into these latest grave attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure, and those responsible must be held to account.

6. Cutaways: Briefing room

7. SOUNDBITE (English)— Danielle Bell, head of our Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine (OHCHR): I will begin with the attack on Okhmatdyt children's hospital because this is one of the most egregious attacks that we've seen since the onset of the full-scale invasion.”

8. Cutaways: Briefing room

9. SOUNDBITE (English)— Danielle Bell, head of our Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine (OHCHR): Okhmatdyt is a children's specialist hospital where families from across the country bring their children for treatment of serious medical conditions such as cancer and kidney disease. My team spent most of yesterday at the incident site yesterday speaking with medical staff, parents of children and residents that live in the area surrounding the hospital.”

10. Cutaways: Briefing room

11. SOUNDBITE (English)— Danielle Bell, head of our Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine (OHCHR): Analysis of the video footage and assessment made at the incident site indicates a high likelihood that the children's hospital suffered a direct hit rather than receiving damages due to an intercepted weapons system. Of course, as was said earlier, this must be investigated. At the time of the attack, 670 child patients, mainly inpatients, were there together with more than a thousand medical staff.”

12. Cutaways: Briefing room

13. SOUNDBITE (English)— Danielle Bell, head of our Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine (OHCHR): The attack also damaged the intensive care, surgical and oncology wards. And 600 children had been transferred to other hospitals in Kyiv city and areas in Kyiv province. This terrible attack shows that nowhere is safe in Ukraine. Yesterday's massive attack across the country involved at least 38 different cruise missiles and ballistic rockets of various types, as well as drones in multiple waves throughout the day.”

14. Cutaways: Briefing room

15. SOUNDBITE (English)— Danielle Bell, head of our Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine (OHCHR): We haven't determined. We've assessed the factors that suggest the likelihood that it was a direct hit of a KH-101 missile launched by the Russian Federation. The factors suggesting that it was a direct hit are based on video footage, which shows the technical specification of the type of weapon that was used. It shows the weapon directly impacting the hospital rather than being intercepted in the air. And thirdly, my military, our military expert visited the site yesterday and observed damages at the site that were consistent with a direct hit.”

16. Cutaways: Briefing room

17. SOUNDBITE (English)— Danielle Bell, head of our Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine (OHCHR): It can take many years, as we've seen in other contexts. So what's absolutely crucial is that we keep attention on the situation in Ukraine, on the terrible attacks that are taking place across the country every day. And we will continue from our side the meticulous documentation that we are doing on the ground every day to ensure that accountability one day will be a reality.”


Audio Files 1
Download UN Human Rights Spokesperson Jeremy Laurence with Danielle Bell, head Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine, on strike of hospital in Ukraine (Edited Story)
Download

Similar Stories

Uganda UN Human Rights Spokesperson Ravina Shamdasani  urges president to reject bill allowing trials of civilians in military courts

1

1

1

Edited News | OHCHR

Uganda UN Human Rights Spokesperson Ravina Shamdasani urges president to reject bill allowing trials of civilians in military courts ENG FRA

UN Human Rights Office Spokesperson Ravina Shamdasani today urged Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni to reject a bill that was recently endorsed by parliament allowing trials of civilians in military courts. The Uganda People’s Defence Forces Amendment Bill 2025, which was passed on 20 May and now awaits presidential signature to become law, among others broadens the jurisdiction of military courts, authorising them to try a wide range of offences against civilians.

UN Human Rights Office spokesperson Seif Magango: South Sudan: UN human rights chief decries escalating hostilities, arbitrary arrests and hate speech

1

1

1

Edited News | OHCHR

UN Human Rights Office spokesperson Seif Magango: South Sudan: UN human rights chief decries escalating hostilities, arbitrary arrests and hate speech ENG FRA

UN Human Rights Office spokesperson Seif Magango today warned of a further deterioration in the human rights situation in South Sudan at the bi-weekly briefing in Geneva.

Syria humanitarian update OCHA - WHO 23 May 2025

1

1

1

Edited News | OCHA , WHO

Syria humanitarian update OCHA - WHO 23 May 2025 ENG FRA

Syria: ‘Staggering’ needs amid insecurity, health care crisis  - UN humanitarians

Millions of people in Syria continue to face mortal danger from unexploded munitions, disease and malnutrition and urgent support is required, UN humanitarians said on Friday.

Gaza health update - UNRWA - OCHA - WHO

1

1

1

Edited News | UNRWA , OCHA , WHO

Gaza health update - UNRWA - OCHA - WHO ENG FRA

UN life-saving aid allowed to trickle into Gaza as civilian needs mount

Amid calls for more humanitarian trucks to enter the food and medicine-deprived Palestinian enclave of Gaza, UN humanitarians have received permission from Israel for “around 100” more aid trucks to cross into the Strip after only five were let in yesterday,  But the scale of relief efforts allowed remains entirely insufficient to meet the urgent needs of people there, humanitarian workers say.

Press vests becoming a target - war reporter Christina Assi

1

1

1

Edited News

Press vests becoming a target - war reporter Christina Assi ENG FRA

A war reporter from Lebanon who lost a limb in the line of duty is calling for an end to impunity for attacks against journalists.

ITU 160th Anniversary - 17 May 2025

1

1

1

Edited News | ITU

ITU 160th Anniversary - 17 May 2025 ENG FRA

The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) commemorated 160 years dedicated to connecting the world on Saturday, 17 May in Geneva, Switzerland, during the annual World Telecommunication and Information Society Day.

Gaza humanitarian update – WHO, OCHA 16 May 2025

1

1

1

Edited News | WHO , OCHA

Gaza humanitarian update – WHO, OCHA 16 May 2025 ENG FRA

Gazans ‘in terror’ after another night of deadly strikes and siege

Amid reports that Israeli strikes across Gaza into Friday killed at least 64 people, aid teams once again pushed back strongly at allegations that aid is being diverted to Hamas and pleaded for the blockade to end.

UN Human Rights raises human rights concerns about deportations from the United States of America

1

1

1

Edited News | OHCHR , UNOG

UN Human Rights raises human rights concerns about deportations from the United States of America ENG FRA

Deportations over recent months of large numbers of non-nationals from the United States of America, especially to countries other than those of their origin, raise a number of human rights concerns, the UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk warned on Tuesday.   

Gaza health update - WHO

1

1

1

Edited News | WHO

Gaza health update - WHO ENG FRA

Gaza: Over 50 child malnutrition deaths amid aid blockade; entire generation will be ‘permanently affected’ - WHO

In the aid desert of Gaza, malnourished children are dying while survivors can expect a lifetime of dire health problems, the UN World Health Organization (WHO) said on Tuesday.

Gaza aid update - UNICEF, UNRWA, WHO 09 May 2025

1

1

1

Edited News | WHO , UNICEF , UNRWA

Gaza aid update - UNICEF, UNRWA, WHO 09 May 2025 ENG FRA

Israel’s aid plan will force Gaza families to choose ‘between displacement and death’ – UN humanitarians

Israel’s plan to take control of relief assistance in Gaza risks increasing the suffering of families already exhausted by 18 months of war by putting their lives in danger and inciting more displacement, using aid as “bait”, UN humanitarians said on Friday.

Gaza humanitarian blockade  OCHA - WHO

1

1

1

Edited News | OCHA , WHO

Gaza humanitarian blockade OCHA - WHO ENG FRA

UN Humanitarians reject Israeli plan to take over aid delivery

The reported Israeli proposal to deliver humanitarian supplies through hubs controlled by the military would be a breach of the core principles of neutral, impartial and independent aid delivery, the UN aid coordination office, OCHA, said on Tuesday.

 

Gaza two months blockade - OCHA 02 MAY 2025

1

1

1

Edited News , B-roll | OCHA

Gaza two months blockade - OCHA 02 MAY 2025 ENG FRA

Gaza: ‘Worst-case scenario’ unfolds as two-month aid blockade deepens suffering - OCHA

Two months into a devastating aid blockade of Gaza food has run out and people are fighting over water amid relentless bombing, the UN’s humanitarian affairs coordination office (OCHA) said on Friday.

/Includes OCHA footage from Gaza City/