Attacks on Health Care Bi-Monthly News Brief: 22 February – 07 March 2023 – World

Attachments

SHCC Attacks on Health Care

The section aligns with the definition of attacks on health care used by the Safeguarding Health in Conflict Coalition (SHCC).

Africa

Mali

04 March 2023: Between Gao and Kidal regions, two employees of ICRC were kidnapped by unidentified perpetrators. Sources: France 24, ICRC in Mali, Le Perisien and Wamaps

Somalia

As reported on 25 February 2023: In Lasanod city and district, Sool region, a female nurse was killed amid fighting between Somaliland troops and the SSC militia. Source: Garowe Online

28 February 2023: In Lasanod city and district, Sool region, indiscriminate violence struck an MSF- supported hospital, damaging it. Paediatrics ward and blood bank services were stopped. Source: MSF East Africa

01 March 2023: In Lasanod city and district, Sool region, the maternal health ward of the Lasanod General Hospital was destroyed amid fighting between Somaliland troops and militias. Sources: UNFPA Somalia and Personal Communication

Asia

Myanmar

Attacks on Health Care in Myanmar

For details on reported incidents between 22 February-07 March, please see this document.
Past incident reports: 08-21 February; 25 January-07 February; 11-24 January; All.
Analysis reports: April and September 2022; 1 February 2021 to 10 January 2022; 1 January to 31 March 2022.

Explore our Attacked and Threatened: Health Care at Risk interactive global map to see documented incidents in Myanmar since 2016. Includes details on who the perpetrators were and the weapons used. Access the dataset on HDX. Follow us on HDX for the latest dataset updates. Join our Myanmar mailing list for regular updates.

Europe

Ukraine

Attacks on Health Care in Ukraine

Explore this interactive map (available in English and Ukrainian) to see incidents where health facilities were damaged or destroyed in Ukraine since February 2022. Access the dataset on HDX. This map is a joint undertaking among eyeWitness to Atrocities, Insecurity Insight, Media Initiative for Human Rights, Physicians for Human Rights, and the Ukrainian Healthcare Center. Together, our coalition of organisations has been monitoring and documenting attacks against Ukraine’s health care system and its infrastructure since the onset of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. There is a reasonable basis to believe that attacks on Ukraine’s health care system constitute war crimes and comprise a course of conduct that could potentially constitute crimes against humanity as well.

Middle East North Africa

Occupied Palestinian Territories

13 February 2023: Near the Shuafat Refugee Camp, East Jerusalem, West Bank, a Palestinian man who had sustained gunshot wounds was arrested by Israeli soldiers from inside an ambulance. Source: Personal Communication

22 February 2023: In Nablus city and governorate, West Bank, Israeli troops prevented a Palestinian Red Crescent Society (PRCS) ambulance from reaching the Ras al Ain neighbourhood, and also damaged it. Separately, Israeli soldiers targeted a PRCS ambulance with rubber-coated bullets, as it was heading to the Bab al-Saha neighbourhood, and broke its mirror. On another occasion, Israeli forces prevented a PRCS ambulance from reaching the home of a two-year-old child suffering from a heart condition, and who had been exposed to teargas. The ambulance crew, who decided to reach the child on foot, were hit by rubber-coated bullets. After reaching the patient, the team was prevented from leaving the house with the child for the next 40 minutes. Source: Palestinian Red Crescent Society

As reported on 26 February 2023: Between Jenin and Ramallah/al-Bireh governorates, West Bank, an Israeli settler attacked a Palestinian Ministry of Health vehicle with medical staff on board. The car sustained damages. Source: Personal Communication

26 February 2023: In Huwara town, Nablus governorate, West Bank, rioting Israeli settlers threw stones at emergency vehicles amid a wider assault against Palestinians. Over 100 Palestinians were wounded, three ambulances sustained damages, and 15 homes were torched. A Palestinian patient suffering from a fractured skull and internal bleeding could not be transferred from the Huwara Clinic to a Nablus hospital due to attacks and checkpoint closures. Israeli troops prevented medical and civil defence teams from reaching the area. The windows of a fire truck were smashed. Sources: Personal Communication I, Personal Communication II, Personal Communication III, Personal Communication IV and Personal Communication V

27 February 2023: In Jenin city and governorate, West Bank, an ambulance carrying a sick 12-year- old girl took detours and off-roads to avoid obstructions at checkpoints and settler attacks along the way from the Jenin Government Hospital to the Intensive Care Department, H-Clinic Hospital, Ramallah. As it reached the Zatara intersection two hours later, it was hit by rocks thrown by Israeli settlers, which smashed the ambulance’s windshield. The mother of the girl was injured by broken glass. Sources: The New Arab I, The New Arab II, The Palestinian Chronicle, Personal Communication and Wafa

01 March 2023: In the Aqbat Jabr Refugee Camp, Jericho city and governorate, West Bank, Israeli soldiers pointed their weapons at PRCS medics during a military raid, and prevented them from reaching a critically wounded Palestinian man. Eventually, they allowed them to reach the man on the condition that they do not take him to hospital. In the meantime, soldiers seized two PRCS ambulances, which they used as shields to protect military vehicles, as they hid behind them and fired at Palestinians. Then, the wounded man suffered a heart attack, prompting soldiers to surround him, stop PCRS medics performing CPR, remove his ventilator, and take him inside a military vehicle, where the patient died a few minutes later. Source: Personal Communication

07 March 2023: In the Jenin Refugee Camp, Jenin city and governorate, West Bank, Israeli soldiers conducting a raid prevented ambulances and medical teams from reaching wounded Palestinians and dead bodies. An ambulance transporting injured Palestinian youths was hit by live bullets. Sources: Personal Communication and Quds News Network

Syrian Arab Republic

08 March 2023: In Deir ez-Zor city, subdistrict, district and governorate, a drone strike of unidentified origin targeted an area controlled by Iran-backed factions, near an Iranian-funded hospital for cholera patients. Four people were killed, and eight others injured. Source: The New Arab

The Americas

Colombia

As reported on 11 February 2023: In Villa Valentina neighbourhood, Soledad municipality, Atlantico department, a nurse was shot at least five times inside her home by a hitman on a motorcycle. She died upon arrival at a medical centre. Source: RCN

Ecuador

As reported on 11 January 2023: In Guayaquil city and canton, Guayas province, four men armed with rifles entered a hospital to kill a male patient with a gunshot wound. The patient was protected by private guards, who engaged the perpetrators. In the midst of a shooting, a guard got killed. Outside the hospital, other private guards confronted the gunmen. Police surrounded the area and detained two guards. Source: Telesur

Haiti

As reported on 22 February 2023: In Port-au-Prince, armed groups control 60% of the capital’s territory, including humanitarian access roads leading to areas further afield, where they often impose roadblocks. Consequently, communities are unable to access food, medical care, and other essential services. Source: The New Humanitarian

As reported on 24 February 2023: In undisclosed locations, ongoing security incidents and serious threats have been jeopardising the ability of a health INGO to operate. Source: Personal Communication

Mexico

01 February 2023: In Yucuribampo ejido, Cajeme municipality, Sonora state, police discovered the body of a 29-year-old male doctor — who had been missing for 14 days — in a property packed with weed. An autopsy revealed that he died from gunshot wounds, and that the time of his death ranges between 10 and 14 days. A man and a woman have been arrested in connection with his death. Sources: Infobae I and Infobae II

As announced on 09 February 2023: Update: In Tijuana city and municipality, Baja California state, police apprehended four subjects for investigation over the attempted abduction of a surgeon last January. One of the suspects is a former member of the Tijuana municipal police. Source: Infobae

Global Health Insecurity

These events affect the provision of health care but are not directly conflict related. These include
events perpetrated by patients, relatives of patients, private individuals and criminals as well as
significant strike action or protests by health care personnel.

Africa

Nigeria

26 February 2023: In Ilorin city, Kwara state, a conservative police sergeant assaulted a male doctor
at the General Hospital’s Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology Unit for not seeking his consent
before examining his wife. Protesting the incident, doctors at the hospital, led by the Nigeria
Association of Government Medical and Dental Practitioners, launched a 48-hour strike. Source:
Punch

Asia

Bangladesh

25 February 2023: In Sheikhpara suburb, Khulna city, district and division, a policeman and a
relative of a patient assaulted the chief of the Burn and Plastic Surgery Department, Shaheed Sheikh
Abu Naser Specialised Hospital. Protesting the incident, members of Khulna’s Bangladesh Medical
Association launched a strike on 01-02 March. Outdoor healthcare services in all private and public
hospitals were suspended. Source: New Age

India

02 March 2023: Update: In Coimbatore city and district, Tamil Nadu state, police arrested a 24-
year-old male nurse for allegedly raping a female doctor at a hotel last December, and sharing her
nude photos on social media. Source: NDTV

Europe

Spain

05 March 2023: In Barcelona city and Barcelona province, Catalonia autonomous community, a
ransomware cyberattack on one of the city’s main hospitals crippled the centre’s computer system
and forced the cancellation of 150 non urgent operations and up to 3,000 patient checkups. Sources:
AP and GuildHall