Attacks on Health Care in the War in Ukraine

As of March 31, 2022, the World Health Organization’s Surveillance System for Attacks on Health Care (SSA) reported at least 82 attacks on health care in Ukraine, resulting in 72 deaths and 43 injuries. Most attacks involved the use of heavy weapons against health care facilities, personnel, patients, and medical supplies. In Mariupol, a direct Russian airstrike on a hospital complex reportedly injured at least 17 health workers and patients; an expectant mother later died. Russian forces reportedly took 100 patients and health workers and 400 civilians as hostages inside an intensive care hospital. These are part of a larger global pattern of attacks on health care in conflict zones. In the period 2016-2020, more than 4000 incidents of violence against health care in conflict areas were reported.

Read the op-ed here.