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U.N. Security Council Condemns Attacks on Health Workers in War Zones U.N. Security Council Condemns Attacks on Health Workers in War Zones
(35 minutes later)
UNITED NATIONS — Warplanes level a hospital in the rebel-held half of Aleppo, Syria, killing one of the city’s last pediatricians. A Saudi-led military coalition bombs a hospital in Yemen. In Afghanistan, American aircraft pummel a hospital mistaken for a Taliban redoubt.UNITED NATIONS — Warplanes level a hospital in the rebel-held half of Aleppo, Syria, killing one of the city’s last pediatricians. A Saudi-led military coalition bombs a hospital in Yemen. In Afghanistan, American aircraft pummel a hospital mistaken for a Taliban redoubt.
The rules of war, enshrined for more than 150 years, require hospitals to be treated as sanctuaries from war — and for health workers to be left alone to do their jobs. The rules of war, enshrined for decades, require hospitals to be treated as sanctuaries from war — and for health workers to be left alone to do their jobs.
But on today’s battlefields, attacks on hospitals and ambulances, surgeons, nurses and midwives have become common, punctuating what aid workers and United Nations officials describe as a new low in the savagery of war.But on today’s battlefields, attacks on hospitals and ambulances, surgeons, nurses and midwives have become common, punctuating what aid workers and United Nations officials describe as a new low in the savagery of war.
On Tuesday, the Security Council unanimously adopted a resolution to remind warring parties everywhere of the rules, demanding protection for those who provide health care and accountability for violators.On Tuesday, the Security Council unanimously adopted a resolution to remind warring parties everywhere of the rules, demanding protection for those who provide health care and accountability for violators.
But the resolution also raises an awkward question: Can the world’s most powerful countries be expected to enforce the rules when they and their allies are accused of flouting them? But the resolution also raised an awkward question: Can the world’s most powerful countries be expected to enforce the rules when they and their allies are accused of flouting them?
Russian warplanes were blamed for the bombing of a Syrian hospital in Idlib, for instance, and Syrian soldiers, backed by the Kremlin, continue to remove even painkillers from United Nations aid convoys heading into rebel-held areas.Russian warplanes were blamed for the bombing of a Syrian hospital in Idlib, for instance, and Syrian soldiers, backed by the Kremlin, continue to remove even painkillers from United Nations aid convoys heading into rebel-held areas.
At the same time, Britain and the United States back a Saudi-led coalition that is accused of attacking health facilities in Yemen. China and Russia support the government of Sudan, which is accused of at least two attacks on health facilities supported by Doctors Without Borders, the international medical charity, in Kordofan State. At the same time, Britain and the United States back a Saudi-led coalition that is accused of attacking health facilities in Yemen. China and Russia support the government of Sudan, which is accused of at least two attacks on health facilities supported by Doctors Without Borders, the international medical charity, in Kordofan State. Front-line clinics operated by the charity have also been repeatedly attacked on various battlefields.
“It’s a political signal from the U.N. Security Council. So that’s important,” said Dr. Joanne Liu, international president of Doctors Without Borders, who attended the Security Council vote. Dr. Joanne Liu, the international president of Doctors Without Borders, attended the Security Council vote and pointed to its permanent members in her remarks afterward.
Now, she added, “they are going to have to lift up this resolution from paper and apply it.” “You therefore must live up to your extraordinary responsibilities, and set an example for all states,” she said. “I repeat: Stop these attacks.”
In remarks to the Council after the vote, Dr. Liu said: “The effects of the attacks against health facilities emanate far beyond those immediately killed and injured. They demolish routine and lifesaving health care for all. They make life impossible. Full stop.”
Just hours before, another hospital was reported hit in Aleppo, on the government-held side. Syrian state news media reported fatalities and heavy damage at the hospital, a maternity clinic, and blamed insurgent shelling.Just hours before, another hospital was reported hit in Aleppo, on the government-held side. Syrian state news media reported fatalities and heavy damage at the hospital, a maternity clinic, and blamed insurgent shelling.
There is plenty of blame to go around. In 11 of the world’s war zones, between 2011 and 2014, the International Committee of the Red Cross tallied nearly 2,400 acts of violence against those who were trying to provide health care. That works out to two attacks a day.There is plenty of blame to go around. In 11 of the world’s war zones, between 2011 and 2014, the International Committee of the Red Cross tallied nearly 2,400 acts of violence against those who were trying to provide health care. That works out to two attacks a day.
In Yemen, the poorest country in the Middle East, a fourth of all health care facilities were destroyed or shuttered in one year of war, according to the United Nations.In Yemen, the poorest country in the Middle East, a fourth of all health care facilities were destroyed or shuttered in one year of war, according to the United Nations.
The Security Council action came less than a week after airstrikes believed to have been carried out by the Syrian government demolished a hospital in the rebel-held portion of Aleppo, killing dozens of people including one of the city’s last pediatricians.The Security Council action came less than a week after airstrikes believed to have been carried out by the Syrian government demolished a hospital in the rebel-held portion of Aleppo, killing dozens of people including one of the city’s last pediatricians.
It is difficult to to say whether the attacks on health centers and medical workers have gone up or down when compared to earlier eras of conflict. Certainly, there have been high-profile attacks in the past.It is difficult to to say whether the attacks on health centers and medical workers have gone up or down when compared to earlier eras of conflict. Certainly, there have been high-profile attacks in the past.
Serbian troops stormed a hospital in the Croatian town of Vukovar in 1991, removed several hundred patients and executed them. Sri Lankan forces were accused of attacking hospitals in the Tamil Tiger-held towns of the north in 2008 and 2009, during the last few months of the civil war in that country. In Pakistan, Taliban militants have assassinated dozens of health workers trying to vaccinate children against polio.Serbian troops stormed a hospital in the Croatian town of Vukovar in 1991, removed several hundred patients and executed them. Sri Lankan forces were accused of attacking hospitals in the Tamil Tiger-held towns of the north in 2008 and 2009, during the last few months of the civil war in that country. In Pakistan, Taliban militants have assassinated dozens of health workers trying to vaccinate children against polio.
Targeting a medical facility is considered a war crime, if proved to be deliberate. That is a difficult legal hurdle, and few prosecutions have been made against warring parties accused of attacking hospitals and health workers.Targeting a medical facility is considered a war crime, if proved to be deliberate. That is a difficult legal hurdle, and few prosecutions have been made against warring parties accused of attacking hospitals and health workers.
The Pentagon has said that the strike on the Doctors Without Borders hospital in Kunduz, Afghanistan, last October was unintentional. British officials have similarly insisted that their allies in the Saudi-led coalition waging war in Yemen have not violated international law. A United Nations panel of experts, though, has documented what it described as “widespread” breaches, pointing to airstrikes by the Saudi-led coalition as well as shelling of health facilities by Houthi rebels.The Pentagon has said that the strike on the Doctors Without Borders hospital in Kunduz, Afghanistan, last October was unintentional. British officials have similarly insisted that their allies in the Saudi-led coalition waging war in Yemen have not violated international law. A United Nations panel of experts, though, has documented what it described as “widespread” breaches, pointing to airstrikes by the Saudi-led coalition as well as shelling of health facilities by Houthi rebels.
The Security Council resolution approved on Tuesday is delicately worded. Drafted by Egypt, Japan, New Zealand, Spain and Uruguay, it avoids a direct reference to possible prosecutions by the International Criminal Court, a delicate topic for some countries.The Security Council resolution approved on Tuesday is delicately worded. Drafted by Egypt, Japan, New Zealand, Spain and Uruguay, it avoids a direct reference to possible prosecutions by the International Criminal Court, a delicate topic for some countries.
But the resolution cites the statute that created the court, condemns the “prevailing impunity” for attacks on health centers and calls on governments to carry out independent investigations.But the resolution cites the statute that created the court, condemns the “prevailing impunity” for attacks on health centers and calls on governments to carry out independent investigations.
It also demands that armed combatants allow unimpeded access to health workers. Those demands have been repeatedly made in Syria — and been ignored. Millions of people living in besieged and hard-to-reach areas have no access to medicines.It also demands that armed combatants allow unimpeded access to health workers. Those demands have been repeatedly made in Syria — and been ignored. Millions of people living in besieged and hard-to-reach areas have no access to medicines.