(New York, 17 March 2011): United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator Valerie Amos today expressed grave concern at reports from Bahrain of deaths and the large number of injured people among protestors, as well as extremely troubling reports of wounded persons being denied access to medical facilities and of ill treatment and harassment of medical personnel.

"While we cannot independently clarify or confirm the information coming from Bahrain, the widespread reports of deaths and ill-treatment of protesters, and of injured people being prevented from reaching hospitals or being removed from medical facilities, occupation of medical facilities by security forces, and of medical staff being attacked, are extremely alarming."

Ms. Amos calls upon the authorities to refrain from excessive use of force, and to respect medical facilities and ensure the treatment of wounded persons.

New York, 17 March 2011

For further information, please call:

Stephanie Bunker, OCHA-New York, +1 917 367 5126, mobile +1347 244 2106, bunker@un.org;
Nicholas Reader, OCHA-New York, +1 212 963 4961, mobile +1 646 752 3117, reader@un.org;
Elisabeth Byrs OCHA-Geneva, +41 22 917 2653, mobile, +41 79 473 4570, byrs@un.org.

OCHA press releases are available at http://ochaonline.un.org or www.reliefweb.int.

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