1999 Attacks on Health Care So Far in 2023
Monitoring by Insecurity Insight has identified at least 1999 attacks on health care between 01 January and 28 November 2023. In these incidents, health facilities have been damaged 636 times, 401 health workers have been killed, 221 kidnapped, 267 injured and 249 arrested. High incident numbers have been reported in the occupied Palestinian territories (609), Myanmar (370), Ukraine (368) and Sudan (238).
See where incidents happened on this interactive map. Download this data on HDX. Numbers may change if or when further information is made available. The map and the dataset do not yet include incidents reported in this News Brief.
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
Ethiopia
30 November 2023: In Wegeltena town, Delenta woreda, Amhara region, a Delenta Primary Hospital ambulance was hit in an artillery shell and drone strike of unspecified origin while transporting medicine from Dessie to Delenta. The driver and laboratory technician were killed, the head of the hospital was injured and the ambulance destroyed. Source: All Africa
Mali
28 November 2023: Between Ke-Macina, Segou region and Tenenkou, Mopti region, an LNGO aid worker was reportedly kidnapped and two vehicles taken, including one vehicle belonging to the Tenenkou Medical Centre, by JNIM militants. Source: ACLED
Between 27 – 28 November 2023: Between Kokonto and Soumpi, Niafunke, Tombouctou region, three civilians including the health center technical director (DTC) of Kokonto were reportedly killed by suspected Wagner mercenaries. Source: ACLED
23 November 2023: In Teherdje village, Tombouctou region, a health center was reportedly vandalized and at least 20 civilians were arrested by FAMa and Wagner forces. Source: ACLED.
03 December 2023: In Ain Rahma village, Tombouctou region, a health centre, shops and houses were reportedly vandalized by FAMa and Wagner forces. Source: ACLED
Mozambique
27 November 2023: In Namojelia locality, Chiure district, a local health center was destroyed during a riot sparked by cholera misinformation. Source: Cabo Ligado
South Sudan-Sudan, Abyei Special Administrative Area
03 December 2023: In Wau-achein, Abyei special administrative area, youths from Twic county reportedly ambushed an ambulance carrying wounded people. Source: Eye Radio
Sudan
Insecurity Insight has identified at least 239 attacks on Sudan’s health care system between 01 January-28 November 2023. In these incidents, 50 health workers have been killed and health facilities have been damaged 55 times. These attacks undermine health care providers’ ability to effectively meet patient needs, maintain safe staffing levels and impact the population’s access to health care. Numbers may change if or when further information is made available. Explore this interactive map to see where incidents happened. Access the data on HDX. Please get in touch if you are interested in curated datasets.
Asia
Afghanistan
As reported on 25 November 202: In the Sarak-e Char area, Taloqan city, Takhar province, Taliban forces apprehended a human rights activist and UNDP-affiliated health educator. She was reported to have been mistreated during her arrest. Source: Hasht-e-Subh
Myanmar
Insecurity Insight has identified at least 354 attacks on Myanmar’s health care system between 01 January-14 November 2023. In these incidents, 30 health workers have been killed and health facilities have been damaged 130 times. These attacks undermine health care providers’ ability to effectively meet patient needs, maintain safe staffing levels and impact the population’s access to health care. Access the data on HDX. See where incidents happened on this interactive map. Numbers may change if or when further information is made available.
Past incident reports: 29 November-12 December; November 15-28; November 1-13; October 18-31; All Safeguarding Health in Conflict Coalition (SHCC) Factsheets: 2022; 2021; 2020
Europe
Ukraine
A new case study co-published by Insecurity Insight, eyeWitness to Atrocities, Media Initiative for Human Rights and Physicians for Human Rights reveals the dire consequences for health care from policies and practices carried out by Russia during its occupation of Ukrainian territories. Among others, these include detaining health workers, requiring forced changes of nationality as a precondition for gaining access to health care and repurposing health facilities for nonmedical purposes. With outside access remaining limited, the study provides a rare window into how civilians, health care providers and Ukraine’s health care system more widely have suffered in occupied regions of Ukraine. “Our research sheds new light on the grim realities that patients and providers alike are forced to endure in order to access and provide basic health services,” said Christina Wille, the Director of Insecurity Insight. “For years, our organization has monitored attacks on health care amid armed conflict across the world, and these coercive measures are part of a disturbing pattern of lack of protection of health care in conflict.”
Middle East and North Africa
Lebanon
07 December 2023: In Tyr governorate, an Israeli drone reportedly struck a team of health workers. There were no casualties reported. Source: ACLED
08 December 2023: On the outskirts of Ain Ebel town, Bint Jbeil governorate, a Lebanese army health center was reportedly hit by Israeli artillery. Source: ACLED
Occupied Palestinian Territories
Insecurity Insight has identified 510 incidents of violence against or obstruction of access to health care in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories between 07 October and 11 December 2023. Fourteen incidents were reported in Israel including nine health workers killed in attacks carried out by Hamas militants. In the oPT where 496 incidents were recorded, 362 took place in the Gaza Strip and 83 in the West Bank and East Jerusalem.
Press release by Medical Aid for Palestinians (MAP) The reported number of healthcare workers killed in ten weeks of Israel’s assault on Gaza has exceeded the total number killed in all countries in conflict globally in any single year since 2016, Medical Aid for Palestinians (MAP ) said earlier this week. Since Israel’s military assault began on 7 October, at least 300 health workers have been reported killed, according to the UN. This is more than the total number of health worker deaths recorded across all countries in conflict last year, and in any single year since 2016. Israel’s relentless attacks on healthcare personnel and facilities, and total siege, are regularly dismantling Gaza’s health system. Less than a quarter of hospitals are functioning due to insecurity, damage and lack of fuel, and the average bed occupancy of those that remain operational is more than 200%. Melanie Ward, MAP’s CEO, said: “We are witnessing a whole new scale of attacks on healthcare in Gaza. There is a real danger that, when world leaders return from their Christmas holidays, there will be no health system left in Gaza to serve the 2.2 million people who are in desperate need.”
The Americas
Haiti
08 December 2023: In L’Estère commune, Artibonite department, a nurse was kidnapped by “Kokorat San Ras” armed group gangs. An unspecified ransom was demanded for her release. Source: AmeriqueInfo7
12 December 2023: In Turgeau, Port-au-Prince town, Ouest department, an MSF ambulance was intercepted by armed individuals outside the Emergency Center. The critically ill patient was forcibly removed and executed with multiple gunshots before the assailants fled. MSF is forced to suspend its activities at the Turgeau Emergency Center, which will remain closed for an indefinite period. Source: MSF
Mexico
November 28, 2023: In Leon de los Aldama, Guanajuato state, a woman who worked in the Leon Psychiatric Hospital was shot and killed by armed men aboard a motorcycle while she was on her way to work. Source: ACLED
