The world is facing a crisis of humanity, and it's time to shine a light on the devastating impact of violence on healthcare during armed conflicts. Ten years ago, the UN Security Council's Resolution 2286 aimed to prevent such atrocities, but today, we mourn its failure. The situation has only worsened, with hospitals reduced to rubble, ambulances obstructed, and medical personnel and patients caught in deadly attacks.
This is not just a humanitarian crisis; it's a crisis of our shared humanity. The rules and norms that were meant to limit the harm of war are crumbling before our eyes. When healthcare becomes unsafe, it's a clear sign that something has gone terribly wrong.
As the heads of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), the World Health Organization (WHO), and Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), we have witnessed the catastrophic consequences of this failure firsthand. Our teams on the front lines of global crises see the devastating impact every day. Patients die from treatable wounds, women give birth without adequate care, and entire communities are cut off from life-saving services.
The obligation under international humanitarian law (IHL) to "respect and ensure respect...in all circumstances" is being ignored. States must not only abide by these rules themselves but also use their influence to ensure other states and parties to conflict do the same. The recommendations outlined in the UN Secretary-General's report accompanying Resolution 2286 provide a clear roadmap for states to follow.
We, the ICRC, WHO, and MSF, stand ready to support states in implementing these critical measures. Our presence in conflict settings, medical expertise, and operational capacity are at their disposal. Additionally, we call for the strengthening of consistent and transparent reporting of attacks on healthcare, as outlined in World Health Assembly Resolution 65.20.
To prevent another decade of deteriorating norms and unjustifiable violence, we urge all states to take immediate action. This includes translating existing commitments into concrete actions to implement Resolution 2286, promoting positive efforts to protect hospitals, and integrating the protection of healthcare into armed and security forces' doctrine and operational guidance.
Furthermore, states must review, enact, and strengthen domestic laws to protect healthcare in armed conflict. Adequate financial, technical, and operational resources must be allocated to implement protective measures and promote respect for healthcare provision. States should also use their influence to ensure other parties to conflict comply with their obligations to protect healthcare.
Swift, transparent, and impartial investigations into attacks on healthcare are essential, as is supporting efforts to ensure accountability. Regular and transparent reporting on the implementation of Resolution 2286 is crucial to tracking progress, identifying challenges, and learning from good practices.
The international community must not turn a blind eye to this crisis. We must hold ourselves and our leaders accountable for the protection of healthcare in armed conflicts. It is a failure of political will that healthcare facilities continue to be damaged or destroyed, and medical workers and patients remain victims of attacks. Health care must never be a casualty of war, and it is our collective responsibility to ensure this.
In my opinion, this issue strikes at the very core of our humanity. When we fail to protect those who are sick and injured, and those who care for them, we fail as a society. It is a moral obligation, and one that we must address with urgency and determination. The world needs to wake up to this crisis and take action before it's too late.
