The protection of medical care in armed conflict

The human cost of attacks on medical care in armed conflict

In a number of armed conflicts, medical facilities and workers are attacked and face deliberate interference.
Violence against medical personnel, facilities and transports has a devastating impact on the wounded and sick in armed conflicts around the globe:

Between 1 January and 31 March 2017, the World Health Organization (WHO) recorded 88 attacks against health care in 14 countries and territories, leading to 80 deaths and 81 injuries.

In 2016, the WHO recorded 302 attacks against health care in 20 countries and territories, leading to 372 deaths and 491 injuries.iii In 2015, Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) reported 94 aerial and shelling attacks on 63 MSF‐supported facilities, causing the total destruction of 12 facilities, and injuring 81 MSF‐ supported medical staff.

From 2012 to 2014, the International Committee of the Red Cross recorded 2,398 incidents of violence against health care in 11 countries facing armed conflict or another emergency.v

Such violence results in an immediate loss of life, injury, destruction, and the deprivation of essential healthcare. It also has catastrophic longer-term consequences as medical facilities close and medical workers are forced to flee, depriving entire communities of vital care.
Medical care also suffers less visible impediments, such as legislation criminalizing medical care for certain categories of patients, or arbitrary obstructions to the passage of medical relief.