Attacks on healthcare facilities and personnel represent a grave challenge to human dignity and the fundamental right to health, especially in areas already struggling with conflict and humanitarian crises. A recent bi-monthly brief from July 22 to August 4, 2026, sheds light on the continuous and widespread nature of these assaults, highlighting how conflict zones, even in regions striving to combat deadly diseases like Ebola, routinely become battlegrounds where medical care is targeted. ## Global Trend: Escalating Violence Against Healthcare The safeguarding of health services is a cornerstone of international humanitarian law, yet the reality on the ground often paints a grim picture. In 2025 alone, the Safeguarding Health in Conflict Coalition (SHCC), utilizing data from Insecurity Insight, documented a staggering 2,546 incidents of violence against healthcare across 33 countries. This encompassed direct damage or destruction to health facilities in at least 790 instances, the tragic killing of 455 health workers, the kidnapping of 218, and the arrest of 263 more. These numbers are not just statistics; they represent countless lives disrupted, services halted, and communities left vulnerable without access to critical medical support. ## State Actors and Cross-Border Violence A particularly concerning trend in 2025 was the significant involvement of state actors in these attacks, reported in 26 countries and territories. This marked a notable increase of nine countries compared to the previous year. Over 80% of these incidents involved state forces targeting healthcare outside their own borders, whether through cross-border operations or in contested territories. Major actors attributed to such attacks included the Israel Defense Forces in areas like Iran, Lebanon, the occupied Palestinian territory, Syria, and Yemen, and Russian forces in Ukraine. Other nations such as Venezuela, Burundi, India, Iran, Turkey, and the US also had forces linked to cross-border attacks on health infrastructure. This pattern of external military involvement further complicates the protection of healthcare, often blurring lines of accountability and escalating humanitarian suffering. ## Focus on Africa: DRC, Ethiopia, and Mali The African continent remains a significant hotspot for violence against healthcare. In the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), a nation grappling with persistent conflict and recurrent disease outbreaks, the period of July 22-August 4, 2026, saw several disturbing incidents. In Masisi, pharmacies were forced to shut down due to intense clashes between armed groups, only reopening when conditions temporarily improved. Later, in Buleusa, Wazalendo fighters looted pharmacies, stealing essential medicines. These actions directly deprive communities of vital pharmaceutical supplies. Ethiopia also reported disruptions, with an unspecified number of medical clinics in the Amhara region being looted by members of the national defense force between July 21-25. Meanwhile, in Mali, a health center in Ansongo was raided by unidentified armed men on July 28, injuring a nurse and stealing a tricycle ambulance, a critical vehicle for patient transport in remote areas. The following day, a medical clinic in Talhandak was struck by drones, reportedly operated by Malian military and Russian Africa Corps, resulting in one fatality and one serious injury. Such deliberate targeting of medical facilities and personnel cripples an already fragile health system, leaving populations without access to emergency or routine care. ## Ebola Response Under Fire in the DRC The situation in the DRC is particularly alarming due to repeated attacks on Ebola response efforts. From May 21 to August 4, 2026, Insecurity Insight recorded 35 attacks specifically targeting measures to control the Ebola outbreak. This included 11 instances where Ebola treatment centers were damaged, with five facilities deliberately set ablaze. Furthermore, nine response workers were injured, and another twelve were kidnapped. These acts of violence are often fueled by misinformation, community mistrust, and sometimes by unmet demands. For example, on July 25, doctors and nurses at the Elikya Ebola Treatment Centre in Bunia went on strike over two months of unpaid bonuses, bringing essential patient care to a standstill. Just two days later, a health post in Butembo was set on fire due to false rumors that a health worker was intentionally infecting patients. This deeply disturbing trend continued with Crinovic Hospital Centre being destroyed by arson after its director was accused of similar actions. Even safe burial teams faced obstruction from residents demanding to verify bodies, disrupting critical infection control procedures. Ambulances transporting Ebola patients were stoned, and response workers staged protests over unpaid salaries, further destabilizing crucial public health efforts. These incidents highlight the complex interplay of violence, mistrust, and systemic issues that hamper life-saving humanitarian work during an epidemic. ## Impact in Europe: Ukraine's Healthcare Battle In Ukraine, the ongoing conflict continues to inflict severe damage on healthcare. Between July 22 and August 4, two ambulances were destroyed by a landmine in Oleshky, resulting in the tragic death of one driver. Another ambulance was damaged by a Russian drone in Khotimlia. Russian shelling also damaged a medical facility in Kherson, and on August 4, the Zaporizhzhia Regional Children's Clinical Hospital sustained damage from aerial bombs. These recent events echo the extensive violence seen in 2025, where 613 incidents against healthcare were recorded in Ukraine. Hospitals, including facilities for mothers and children, pharmacies, and warehouses, suffered damage or destruction on 382 occasions due to explosive weapons. There is even evidence of cluster munitions hitting hospitals, such as in Sumska oblast in May and June 2025. Such relentless attacks devastate medical infrastructure and make it incredibly difficult for civilians to access even basic medical care. ## Middle East Challenges: Lebanon, Palestine, Yemen The Middle East also continues to face significant challenges. In Lebanon, four members of the Lebanese Red Cross were injured on July 21 when a landmine from previous conflicts detonated near their convoy. Days later, a social affairs center, which housed a nursery and medical clinic, was completely destroyed by Israeli forces. These incidents highlight the enduring dangers to humanitarian workers and essential services in conflict-affected areas. In Yemen, Houthi authorities reportedly obstructed the delivery and distribution of vaccines, disrupting vital immunization programs and humanitarian activities. This denial of essential healthcare, especially vaccines, has dire consequences for children, leaving them vulnerable to preventable diseases. Meanwhile, the occupied Palestinian territory continues to experience persistent violence affecting its health sector. ## Americas Face Healthcare Threats: Colombia, Haiti, Mexico Violence also reached healthcare in the Americas. In Colombia, an ambulance heading to transfer a pregnant patient was attacked with stones and set on fire by protestors in San Vicente del Caguán on August 1. In a separate incident, a doctor was tragically shot and killed in his office in Supía. These acts underscore how civil unrest and targeted violence can directly impede emergency medical services and endanger healthcare professionals. In Haiti, a nation plagued by gang violence, only 26% of medical facilities in Port-au-Prince were operational by late July, primarily due to transit blockades. Moving patients safely by ambulance has become nearly impossible, forcing families to resort to dangerous alternatives. Even the area in front of the Peace Hospital saw an attempted abduction by heavily armed gang members. Mexico also recorded a security guard being killed at a private hospital in Guadalajara. These incidents reveal how widespread societal instability translates into a direct threat to healthcare access and safety. ## The Broader Consequences of Attacking Health Systems The implications of these attacks extend far beyond the immediate damage and casualties. They erode the very fabric of society, sowing fear among health workers and discouraging them from providing care in areas where it is most needed. This leads to a breakdown of trust between communities and health providers, making public health campaigns, like vaccinations or disease outbreak responses, incredibly challenging. The long-term health consequences for affected populations are severe, including increased morbidity and mortality from preventable and treatable conditions, and the exacerbation of existing health disparities. Each attack is a direct violation of international humanitarian law, which mandates the protection of healthcare in all circumstances, and undermines global efforts to achieve health for all. ## Call for Protection and Accountability The recurring violence against healthcare across the globe demands urgent attention and concerted action. It is imperative that all parties to conflict, whether state or non-state actors, respect their obligations under international law to protect healthcare workers, facilities, and patients. Accountability for these egregious acts is crucial to deter future violations. International bodies, governments, and civil society organizations must continue to advocate for the safety of health personnel and infrastructure, provide robust support to affected health systems, and work towards long-term solutions that address the root causes of conflict and instability. Ensuring that healthcare remains a sanctuary, even amidst chaos, is a shared global responsibility.