The heads of the World Health Organization (WHO), the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and Doctors Without Borders (MSF) denounced on Sunday the "failure" of the international community to protect health services during conflicts.
Ten years ago, they recall in a joint declaration, the United Nations Security Council unanimously adopted resolution 2286 which condemns attacks and threats targeting the wounded and sick, medical personnel, hospitals and other medical facilities.
"Today, the situation is even worse than ten years ago. We are not celebrating a success, we are seeing a failure", they denounce, affirming that "this is not a failure of law" but "of political will".
“Violence targeting infrastructure, means of transport and health personnel continues unabated,” they underline.
As leaders of the ICRC, WHO and MSF, they say they join "other members of the international community in launching an urgent call for action."
“When hospitals and caregivers are targeted, we face not only a humanitarian crisis, but also a crisis of humanity,” they say.
They call on world leaders "to act and demonstrate the political will necessary to end this violence" against health care, in particular by strengthening their protection and ensuring that "rapid, transparent and impartial investigations" are carried out when there are attacks.
“State actors are responsible for the vast majority, around 85%, of incidents affecting health services,” Michael Keeffe, ICRC advisor on the protection of health services, told journalists this week.
weather
8, rue St Georges, Port Louis
BP N° 7 / Tel: (230) 207 8200
email:lemauricien.redaction@gmail.com
Disclaimer/Privacy Policy/Subscription
Enjoying Mauritius News in English?
You've used 1 of your 5 free articles today. Subscribe for unlimited access plus a daily newsletter.
