New Report: 4,000+ Attacks on Health Workers, Facilities, and Transports Since 2016 —Underscores Need to Protect Health Care in Conflict 

May 05, 2021Anew report andinteractive map published today by the Safeguarding Health in Conflict Coalition (SHCC), based on data collated by coalition member Insecurity Insight, highlights a global onslaught of violence against health workers, facilities, and transport from 2016 through 2020, including:4,094 reported attacks and threats against health care in conflict1,524 health workers injured681 health workers killed401 health workers kidnapped978 incidents where health facilities were destroyed or damaged.The figures—drawn from credible media reports as well as reporting by intergovernmental organizations, states, NGOs, and aid agencies—is likely a significant undercount, due to underreporting in many places around the world.On May 3, 2016, the UN Security Council unanimously adopted Resolution 2286, which obliged Member States to take specific actions to end—or at least ameliorate—violence against health care. The SHCC report published today provides a review of violence against health care from 2016-2020 and of the inaction of governments to effectively respond to the crisis.Violence against health care spiked as well during the COVID-19 pandemic, as patients and community members attacked health workers and mounted violent responses to public health measures. While most violence against health care from 2016 to 2019 occurred in conflict zones, the pandemic led to waves of attacks against health care in countries not at war, such as India and Me...
Source: IntraHealth International - Category: International Medicine & Public Health Authors: Source Type: news