The international community is failing to protect healthcare in armed conflict

The BMJ Pub Date : 2024-11-12 DOI:10.1136/bmj.q2474
Richard Brennan, Muhammad Sheraz
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Abstract

Regular attacks on health facilities, workers, and patients in conflicts are a devastating reality Since 2018, the World Health Organization (WHO) has documented over 7400 attacks on healthcare in armed conflict across 21 countries and territories.1 WHO defines an attack on healthcare as any act of verbal, physical violence, obstruction, or threat of violence that interferes with the availability, access, and delivery of curative or preventive health services during emergencies. That translates to an average of three attacks a day, every day. The attacks have killed almost 2500 health workers, patients, and bystanders—one a day. To prevent and mitigate attacks on healthcare— one of the most disturbing aspects of today’s conflicts—we need renewed political, legal, diplomatic, and programmatic efforts. Attacks on healthcare are a global problem. While reporting is not exhaustive, most attacks over the past seven years have occurred in the occupied Palestinian territory, Ukraine, Democratic Republic of Congo, Myanmar, Afghanistan, and Syria.1 Despite clear prohibitions under international law, not one person has been held accountable for any of the over 7400 attacks documented by WHO. Historically, only a handful of cases have led to charges and prosecution. The message is clear—current laws, accountability mechanisms, and diplomatic efforts are proving ineffective at protecting healthcare in conflict.2 Impunity is the rule. And the public health implications are stark—attacks on healthcare severely disrupt access to life …
国际社会未能保护武装冲突中的医疗卫生服务
自 2018 年以来,世界卫生组织(WHO)已记录了 21 个国家和地区的 7400 多起武装冲突中的医疗卫生袭击事件。1 WHO 将医疗卫生袭击定义为在紧急情况下干扰治疗性或预防性医疗卫生服务的提供、获取和交付的任何口头、身体暴力、阻挠或暴力威胁行为。这意味着每天平均发生三起袭击事件。这些袭击已造成近 2500 名医务工作者、患者和旁观者死亡,每天一人死亡。为了预防和减少对医疗卫生服务的袭击--这是当今冲突中最令人不安的方面之一--我们需要在政治、法律、外交和计划方面做出新的努力。对医疗卫生的袭击是一个全球性问题。1 尽管国际法明令禁止,但在世卫组织记录的7400多起袭击事件中,没有一人被追究责任。从历史上看,只有少数案件导致了指控和起诉。信息是明确的--现行法律、问责机制和外交努力在保护冲突中的医疗保健方面证明是无效的。对公共卫生的影响是显而易见的--对医疗保健的攻击严重破坏了人们对生命的获取......
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