The Safeguarding Health in Conflict Coalition’s latest report, “Critical Condition: Violence Against Health Care in Conflict,” has revealed alarming trends in attacks on health care facilities and workers in conflict zones. In 2023, the coalition documented 2562 incidents of violence against or obstruction of health care, marking a 25% increase from the previous year and the highest number ever recorded since the Coalition began reporting.
The report highlights the widespread nature of attacks on health care across 30 countries, regions, or territories affected by conflict. New conflicts in Gaza and Sudan witnessed intense violence against health care, while ongoing conflicts in Myanmar, Ukraine, and Haiti continued to pose significant threats to health facilities and workers. Additionally, the Sahel region faced high risks to health facilities, transportation, and patient access to care.
Christina Wille, director of Insecurity Insight, emphasized the devastating impact of explosive weapons in populated areas, which often result in the destruction of the health system and harm to civilians. The report underscores the urgent need to address the unrestrained transfer of weapons used to target health facilities, as such destruction causes immediate and long-term harm to conflict-affected populations, including expectant mothers, young children, and the chronically ill.
The report provides detailed profiles of 20 countries and territories where violence against health care was prevalent. These include Afghanistan, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, the Central African Republic (CAR), the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Ethiopia, Haiti, Israel, Mali, India (Manipur state only), Myanmar, Niger, Nigeria, the oPt, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria, Ukraine, and Yemen. These profiles offer insight into the specific challenges faced by each region and the urgent need for action to protect health care services in conflict-affected areas.
