Attacks on Health Care in 23 Countries in Conflict
Attacks on Health Care in 23 Countries in Conflict
In 2018, the Safeguarding Health in Conflict Coalition (a coalition of 30 institutions and NGOs, which Médecins du Monde is a member) documented a total of 973 attacks on health in 23 countries in conflict. At least 167 workers died in attacks in 17 countries, and at least 710 were injured. Hospitals and clinics were bombed and burned in 15 countries.
Aerial attacks continued to hit health facilities in Syria and Yemen. The number of documented attacks represents a significant increase from our last report of 701 attacks in 23 countries in 2017. However, it cannot be determined whether this higher number signifies a greater number of attacks in 2018 than in 2017 or an improvement in reporting mechanisms, in light of the implementation of the World Health Organization (WHO)’s Surveillance System of Attacks on Healthcare (SSA). We incorporated data from six of the eight countries and territories that the WHO currently reports on, and it remains likely that the true number of attacks is even higher than reported overall.