Hospitals in conflict zones are no longer safe places. Rather, they often became targets for attacks. Three of the largest health organizations in the world, including Doctors Without Borders, sounded the alarm and warned of an unprecedented deterioration in health care conditions on the one hand and international failure to protect patients and medical staff on the other. FRANCE 24 is trying to shed light on this warning to understand its dimensions and repercussions through a dialogue with Hakim Ashqam, field operations advisor for Doctors Without Borders in Paris and one of the contributors to preparing the statement.

Published on: 04/05/2026 - 18:16 Last updated: 04/05/2026 - 18:16

Three of the most prominent health organizations in the world (the World Health Organization, the International Committee of the Red Cross, and Doctors Without Borders) warned of the deteriorating health care conditions in conflict areas, denouncing the failure of the international community to protect patients and medical staff.

In a joint statement issued on Sunday, these organizations called on world leaders to “take action,” stressing that the targeting of health facilities, means of transportation, and workers in the medical sector has not decreased, but rather has become more severe in recent years.

To shed light on the most important aspects of the statement and review ways to protect health personnel and facilities in conflict areas, France 24 interviewed Hakim Ashqam, field operations advisor for Doctors Without Borders in Paris, and one of the contributors to its preparation.

France 24: What is the context of the joint statement, and what do the numbers reveal about attacks on the health sector?

Hakim Ashqam: The statement was issued on the occasion of the tenth anniversary of the adoption of Resolution No. 2286 by the UN Security Council. It is a decision aimed at protecting medical personnel in armed conflicts. This statement was prepared jointly by the International Committee of the Red Cross, Doctors Without Borders and the World Health Organization.

But instead of decreasing attacks, data revealed that they have been on a continuous increase over the past ten years, especially in the last three years. According to the World Health Organization, 1,348 attacks on medical facilities were recorded in 2025, resulting in more than 1,900 deaths. These attacks include hospitals, ambulances and medical personnel.

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As for Doctors Without Borders, it recorded 255 security incidents related to medical activities, including 107 attacks on medical facilities, 75 attacks on ambulances, and 73 cases of armed intrusion. This rise began in 2016, but became more pronounced and dangerous in 2024 and 2025, with indications that it will continue in 2026.

These incidents include 28 countries, including Haiti, Sudan, Yemen, the Central African Republic and the Democratic Congo. Attacks on medical facilities are particularly concentrated in Sudan, Yemen, Haiti, the occupied Palestinian territories and South Sudan. This reality raises a question about the effectiveness of international laws in protecting the health sector.

Is there real accountability for the parties responsible for these attacks?

Despite a clear legal framework, the reality is that there is no real accountability. Resolution 2286, adopted in May 2016, provides for the protection of medical facilities, patients and health workers. It also condemns the attacks against them.

It also calls on the parties to the conflict to respect international humanitarian law and human rights, in addition to calling for facilitating the access of medical teams to conflict areas, taking measures to prevent attacks and conducting independent investigations, in addition to condemning impunity.

Despite these principles, attacks are increasing in the absence of effective accountability. Which leads to a kind of normalization with targeting the health sector. This is mainly due to the persistence of impunity, the absence of deterrence, and the failure to effectively implement international obligations.

Read also: One person was killed and two paramedics were injured in Israeli raids on southern Lebanon and new evacuation warnings despite the truce

What are possible measures to enhance health sector protection?

The primary responsibility lies with states and parties to the conflict, as most of these attacks are attributed to them, to some armed groups, and sometimes to acts of looting that occur during conflicts.

In the field, health organizations like Doctors Without Borders are trying to reduce risks through practical measures, such as working in underground facilities as happened in Ukraine, avoiding the most bombed areas, distributing rather than grouping staff, and adopting risk-reduction measures. But these measures remain temporary and do not address the problem from its roots.

The real solution requires countries to adhere to their international obligations, conduct independent investigations, identify those responsible, and put an end to impunity. There are additional problems, such as double standards in condemning attacks, which are denounced in some cases and ignored in others. In addition to the danger of holding medical teams responsible for protecting them instead of holding those who target them accountable.

The media and independent investigations also play an important role in exposing these violations, especially with the development of open investigation tools. Ultimately, targeting medical facilities not only represents a violation of the law, but also reflects a serious deterioration in human values, because these facilities are supposed to be places to save lives.

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