TRIPOLI, Dec. 26 (Xinhua) -- The World Health Organization (WHO) on Wednesday condemned an armed attack on a local hospital in the eastern Libyan city Benghazi.
"The WHO strongly condemns the armed attack occurred on Dec. 26 in Al Jala Hospital in Benghazi, which caused panic to the patients, health workers, and damage to the infrastructure of the hospital," WHO said in a statement.
The statement warned that such attacks would eventually lead to "closure of this important hospital, add to the suffering of Libyan people, and further deprive the already limited access they have to medical care."
"Al Jala Trauma hospital is working under extreme pressure with limited supplies and resources to save lives and provide medical services to the whole east of Libya," the statement added.
The organization called on all parties to "observe international humanitarian law, and respect the safety and neutrality of health workers and health facilities."
After they were denied entry to the hospital, a group of gunmen caused panic when they opened fire inside the intensive care unit, the hospital said.
In November, gunmen attacked a medical center in the city, wounding two nurses and three security guards.
