World Health Organization (WHO) chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has been suffering from tinnitus since he and his team were caught in an Israeli airstrike in Yemen, the world's top health official said on Wednesday.
“I'm fine, but I've developed tinnitus (ringing in the ears) from the loud blast. I hope it will be temporary,” Tedros, 59, wrote on X after returning to Geneva.
The Israeli air force bombed the airport in the Yemeni capital Sana'a last Thursday as the team of the WHO director general was about to board their flight after talks in the city.
According to Tedros, one of the crew members was injured and the control tower, departure hall and runway were damaged.
A WHO delegation was in Yemen to negotiate the release of detained UN staff.
“We knew this mission would be dangerous,” Tedros wrote, adding that they went because of UN colleagues who have been with the Houthi militia since 2021.
The “contributory” talks have been halted, suspended or canceled several times because of drone flights overhead, according to Tedros.
The Israeli military said it attacked Houthi militia infrastructure in Yemen, including targets at the international airport in Sana'a.
