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Healthcare Under Fire: Global Attacks Surge Post-Middle East Conflict
30 Apr
Summary
- Global attacks on healthcare facilities and staff increased since Middle East conflict.
- Attacks rose from 3.7 to 4.3 per day after U.S. and Israeli airstrikes on Iran.
- Fifty hospitals closed and 16 damaged in the Middle East amid escalating conflict.
Global attacks on healthcare facilities and staff have markedly increased since the onset of the Middle East conflict. The World Health Organization (WHO) noted a rise in daily incidents from an average of 3.7 before late February to 4.3 following U.S. and Israeli airstrikes on Iran.
These attacks, including shelling, arrests, and intimidation, are directly targeting healthcare when it is most critical. In the Middle East, this has resulted in 50 hospitals closing and 16 being damaged, significantly hindering medical services. The WHO Director-General has condemned these acts, highlighting over 149 attacks in Lebanon and 26 in Iran since late February.
The conflict's impact is also severe in Gaza, with only one fully functioning hospital, and in Sudan, where just 54% of hospitals remain operational. These ongoing assaults raise serious concerns about international humanitarian law and the protection of medical infrastructure.
