WHO reports over 900 deaths from attacks on global healthcare networks

The World Health Organization (WHO) has reported that over 900 people have died due to attacks on global healthcare networks so far this year. According to Altaf Musani, Director of Humanitarian Action and Disaster Management at the WHO, at least 911 deaths and 1,486 injuries have resulted from 914 recorded attacks on health systems.

Ukraine, Lebanon, and the Palestinian Territories have seen the highest concentration of these incidents. Other reported attacks occurred in Myanmar, Iran, Sudan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, South Sudan, Russia, Syria, and Nigeria. The WHO noted that 685 of these attacks involved heavy weaponry, while others included the obstruction of medical care, psychological violence, and the kidnapping or detention of healthcare workers and patients.

Beyond physical casualties, the WHO highlighted the psychological impact on communities. Attacks on hospitals lead to increased fear, causing people to delay seeking medical attention and causing healthcare workers to abandon their posts. In Syria, medical consultations dropped by half following attacks on the health network, and in Gaza, 36 hospitals have sustained damage due to ongoing conflict.