The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has raised serious concerns over increasing violence affecting healthcare systems across Latin America and the Caribbean, warning that seeking medical care is becoming dangerous in several conflict-affected regions.
According to the ICRC, attacks, threats, and intimidation against healthcare workers are becoming more frequent in countries such as Colombia, Mexico, Haiti, and Ecuador. Ambulances, hospitals, and medical staff are increasingly caught in situations of armed violence, disrupting essential health services and putting both patients and providers at risk.
The organization reports that in Colombia alone, hundreds of incidents involving violence against healthcare services were recorded in 2025, including threats, killings, and attacks on medical facilities. These violations have severely restricted access to healthcare in conflict-affected areas, where movement limitations and insecurity have delayed or prevented patients from receiving urgent treatment.
In Mexico, more than 190 serious incidents affecting healthcare services were documented between 2024 and 2025. These include attacks on medical personnel, armed raids on health facilities, and theft of medical supplies, all of which have contributed to the weakening of already strained healthcare systems in affected regions.
The situation is particularly severe in Haiti, where escalating armed violence has reportedly rendered more than 70 percent of health services in Port-au-Prince non-operational. Many hospitals and clinics have been forced to shut down or significantly reduce services, leaving emergency care, maternal health services, and chronic disease treatment severely disrupted.
Healthcare professionals in the region describe growing insecurity in hospitals and clinics, including incidents where armed individuals have entered facilities and forced staff to provide treatment under threat. These conditions have led to staff burnout, facility closures, and reduced access to essential services for local communities.
Ecuador is also facing rising insecurity, with violence affecting healthcare delivery in several regions. Temporary suspensions of services and limited access to medical facilities have further strained public health systems, particularly in areas most affected by organized violence.
The ICRC warns that these patterns reflect a broader regional trend in which healthcare services are increasingly becoming targets or collateral damage in situations of armed violence. The organization emphasizes that such actions violate international humanitarian law and undermine the basic right to healthcare.
In response, the ICRC and its partners are engaging in dialogue with armed actors, strengthening legal protections for medical services, and supporting healthcare systems through training, preparedness programs, and emergency assistance. Efforts also include improving safety protocols for healthcare workers and enhancing coordination with national Red Cross societies.
