Attacks on health care during war are becoming more regular, with devastating consequences

The head of the World Health Organization (WHO), Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, he warned attacks on healthcare workers, patients and facilities “must not become the norm.”

However, reports from wars around the world they often show bombings of hospitals and attacks on health care workers.

The increased use explosive weapons in densely populated areas worsens the problem because they cause widespread damage to civilians and critical infrastructure, including healthcare facilities. Whether these attacks are targeted or seen as “collateral damage,” it exists growing concern become an accepted part of armed conflict – although they violate the protections granted under Article international law.

But are these attacks on health care actually getting worse, or are we just getting better at documenting them? More importantly, is the world starting to see them as normal?

What does the data show?

Collecting accurate data in war zones is a challenge. Many health care attacks go unreported due to fear of reprisal or the dangers of information collection. In some cases, data disclosure may be sensitive because conflicting parties may exploit it to influence public opinion or escalate tensions.

Despite these challenges, organizations have been monitoring attacks on healthcare for years, including WHO, Coalition for Health Protection in Conflict (SHCC) i International Committee of the Red Cross. Their reports indicate an enhance in both the frequency and systematic targeting of health care in some regions.

SHCC’s latest report shows that last year was the deadliest for health care workers since reporting began a decade ago. In 2023, 480 health care workers died in armed conflicts – almost twice previous year.

WHO confirmed that between January and September 2024 almost 700 attacks against health care facilities and personnel only in Ukraine and the occupied Palestinian territory. This led to over 500 injuries and almost 200 deaths among patients and healthcare workers.

IN Sudan AND Myanmarhospitals and clinics continue to be targeted, leaving millions of people without access to basic health care.

This violence could lead to the near collapse of healthcare systems. For example, until January 2024. 84% of health facilities in Gaza have been damaged or destroyed. This deprives people of necessary care, worsens chronic conditions and allows diseases to spread uncontrolled.

Regulations protecting health care

The 1949 Geneva Conventions and their Additional Protocols form the basis International humanitarian lawprotecting healthcare workers, hospitals and patients during an armed conflict. These laws were introduced after World War II to ensure that people could access medical care even in times of war without fear of attack. Any deliberate attacks on medical services constitute a violation of international law and, in some cases, a war crime.

Today everyone is recognized country in the world has committed to complying with these regulations. In 2016, the United Nations Security Council also adopted: resolution condemning the attacks on healthcare and calling for stronger action to ensure compliance.

However, attacks on health care continue. Some of the most grave examples have occurred during recent armed conflicts in which hospitals and clinics have been directly targeted, often without consequences for the attackers. Earlier this year, Ukraine asked International Criminal Court to investigate attacks on A children’s hospital in Kiev.

The persistence of these attacks raises concerns about whether the problem is delicate law enforcement or whether the laws themselves need updating due to newfangled warfare.

Some legal and medical experts say that the laws are not strong enoughespecially with the emergence of non-state armed groups such as militias. Others think the regulations are adequate, but they are not properly enforced.

Humanitarian and human rights organizations are increasingly calling for: stronger responsibilityincluding the involvement of the International Criminal Court and national courts. Others propose a broader, more systematic approach cures attacks on health care as a public health issuenot only legal.

Are health care attacks becoming the norm?

One of the most disturbing aspects of this trend is its potential normalization such attacks, which means that people may come to see them as an inevitable part of war.

When hospitals are bombed or ambulances destroyed without punishment for the perpetrators, it sends a message that health care workers and patients are acceptable targets. This creates an environment in which entire populations may feel that there is no safe and sound place to seek care when they need it most.

Contemporary conflicts, engaging non-state armed groups such as militias – as we saw in Haiti and Central African Republic – make a significant contribution to this issue. These groups often do not respect international law.

However, even governments have been accused of attacks on health care facilities despite being parties to the Geneva Conventions, including attacks on hospitals by Israel in Gaza, Saudi Arabia in Yemen and United States in Afghanistan.

If these incidents do not result in grave consequences, a risky precedent is being set.

Immediate and long-term effects

The immediate impact of these attacks is clear and devastating: people injured in conflict or suffering from disease cannot get the care they need. Health care workers who often provide first aid are them directly targetedlimiting the availability of basic care.

The destruction of hospitals also disrupts routine services such as childbirth and vaccinations, leading to preventable deaths and increasing the risk of outbreaks. Explosions mpox in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and polio in Gaza have worsened because health workers cannot safely reach affected areas and vital supplies have been destroyed.

In the long run, these attacks seriously affect people suffering from chronic diseases such as diabetes, cancer and heart disease life-threatening without treatment. Additionally, people are more likely to leave places without health care services, which contributes displacement.

Finally, such attacks undermine trust in hospitals and clinics, causing fear around looking for medical lend a hand. Over time, this can discourage people from seeking care, causing adverse effects on entire communities and hindering progress in global health.