WHO Warns of Severe Health Crisis in Ukraine as Third Winter of War Approaches

Frequent power outages and attacks on infrastructure threaten vaccine storage, water safety, and antibiotic effectiveness.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has highlighted the risk of increased preventable diseases in Ukraine due to compromised vaccine storage and distribution.
Nearly 2,000 attacks on Ukraine's healthcare infrastructure have been documented since Russia's full-scale invasion in February 2022.
Frequent power outages pose a threat to the water system and contribute to growing antimicrobial resistance from the misuse of antibiotics.
WHO is installing heating units and providing generators to hospitals at risk of further attacks, and has also donated 23 ambulances to front-line areas.
Three Red Cross staff members were killed by artillery strikes in eastern Ukraine, prompting calls for a strong international response to Russia's actions.