Health facilities, staff attacked in 17 countries

Attacks on medical facilities, health workers and patients have occurred in at least 17 countries undergoing conflict and civil unrest since January 2014, Human Rights Watch and the Safeguarding Health in Conflict Coalition said in a joint report issued on Wednesday.

The report was released at the annual meeting of health ministers from around the world here from May 18 to 26.

The 22-page report highlights recent attacks in countries around the world. Over the past year, armed groups have attacked hospitals, clinics and health personnel in 41 incidents in Afghanistan and deliberately killed over 45 health workers, primarily polio vaccinators, in Nigeria and Pakistan. 

In Syria, where medical facilities in Aleppo have been hit with government barrel bombs, 194 medical personnel have been killed and 104 medical facilities attacked since 2014.

“The UN General Assembly called on member countries in December to take concrete steps to improve protection for health workers,” said Leonard Rubenstein , chair of the coalition, which includes more than two dozen nongovernmental groups. 

“However, ongoing targeted attacks on health facilities and violence against health workers, and the absence of a robust system of accountability for them, indicates that much more needs to be done.”

The World Health Organization should fast-track its initiative to develop systems to collect and disseminate information on attacks on medical facilities and personnel, Human Rights Watch and the coalition said. 

They also urged governments and non-state armed groups to do more to prevent attacks and to hold accountable those responsible.