WHO Agrees On The Motion That Condemns Russia's Aggression To Ukraine, Including Attacks On Health Facilities

Hospital maternity poly in Kherson, Ukraine that was hit by the Russian attack. (Wikimedia Commons/National Police of Ukraine)

JAKARTA - The World Health Organization Council (WHO) on Wednesday authorized a motion condemning Russian aggression against Ukraine, including attacks on health facilities.

The motion was approved by 80 votes compared to 9, with 52 abstentions and 36 countries not present. The motion, led by Western countries, proposed at the UN agency's annual meeting, also called for an assessment of the impact of Russian aggression on the health sector.

Russia itself has submitted a counter-proposal acknowledging a state of health emergency in Ukraine, but did not mention its role in the war.

The motion was rejected by the panel immediately after the first vote, with 62 votes compared to 13, while 61 abstentions and 41 countries were not present.

After the vote, Russian representatives told the assembly they were not against WHO jobs in Ukraine, but opposed the agency's "politicization".

Meanwhile, Ukrainian representatives said the vote was a "sign of hope" for its citizens in need of health assistance, a milestone in the continuation of WHO's work in the country.

Previously, tensions had escalated ahead of the twin vote. During the speeches criticizing Russia, Moscow's envoy intervened with points of order.

British Ambassador Simon Manley also accused Russia of spreading "disinformation" at the meeting. Meanwhile, a Russian official confirmed Moscow had distributed pamphlets accusing Ukrainian troops of attacking medical facilities in parts of the country it controls.

Moscow itself has consistently denied targeting civilians in what it calls a "special military operation" in Ukraine.

It is known, the results of this vote were the same as last year's trial, when two sets of motions were also filed, with a resolution led by the West passing with 88 votes agreeing and 12 votes disagreeing. The abstention rate and absence are quite high, as in this year's vote.