29 January 2015 - The World Health Organization deplores the recent attacks on health staff and health facilities in Afghanistan, Sudan and Yemen, and expresses deep concern about the serious implications of these attacks on patients, medical personnel and health infrastructure.
In countries where violence is ongoing, repeated and targeted attacks on health care workers and health facilities have severe immediate and long-term consequences on health systems and result in even larger numbers of people continuing to suffer illness or injury without access to medical care.
In the first month of 2015, incidents involving attacks on health care workers and health facilities continue to be reported.
In 2014, the International Committee of the Red Cross released a report documenting more than 2300 incidents involving serious acts or threats of violence against heallth care workers in 23 countries or regions between January 2012 and July 2014. More than 90% of these incidents involve local health care providers. Attacks on or insde health care facilities represented 40% of all confirmed incidents. In many cases, hospitals and health centres were bombed, shot at or looted, which often resulted in extensive damage.
WHO reminds all parties in countries experiencing conflict of their ethical and legal obligations to protect medical services under international humanitarian law. The Organization calls on all parties and individuals to respect and protect the integrity of health systems, and assure the safety of patients, health workers and health care facilities.
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International Committee of the Red Cross
