Over 100 medics and emergency workers killed in Lebanon, UN reports

The U.N. human rights office said on Friday that over 100 medics and emergency workers had been killed in Lebanon since a conflict between Israel and Hezbollah began a year ago.

The conflict erupted when the group opened fire in support of Hamas at the start of the Gaza war. It has intensified dramatically in recent weeks.

The densely populated capital, Beirut, is increasingly being hit by Israeli air strikes, with hundreds dead and over a million people displaced throughout the country. Health workers and medical facilities continue to be targeted by ongoing bombardments, a week after Israel deployed troops and armored vehicles into southern Lebanon and issued evacuation orders.

"In all, over 100 medical and emergency workers have been killed across Lebanon since October last year," spokesperson Ravina Shamdasani told a U.N. briefing, citing figures she said were compiled by the U.N. humanitarian office.

"We've had several reports also of air strikes targeting other medical centres and of paramedics as well as firefighters being killed," she added.

World Health Organization spokesperson Christian Lindmeier said that since Sept. 17, there have been 18 attacks on health facilities in Lebanon, killing 72 health workers.