New York — May 28, 2026 — Ten years after the adoption of United Nations Security Council Resolution 2286, which was meant to safeguard healthcare in armed conflict, a new report shows that hospitals and medical workers remain under attack at alarming levels. The Safeguarding Health in Conflict Coalition (SHCC), which includes Human Rights Watch, documented more than 2,500 incidents in 2025 across 33 countries, with the majority carried out by state forces.
Resolution 2286 obligates governments to prevent and address attacks on health facilities and personnel. Yet, according to Julia Bleckner, senior researcher at Human Rights Watch, member states have failed to meet these obligations. “Accountability requires more than resolutions. It requires consequences,” she said, underscoring the urgent need for stronger enforcement of international law.
The report highlights devastating examples worldwide. In Syria, the Assad government and Russian forces targeted hospitals, leaving long‑lasting damage to the health system. In Myanmar, the military junta obstructed medical access, worsening the response to the 2025 earthquake. In Gaza, repeated strikes on medical facilities led to the collapse of healthcare services. In Sudan, hospitals were attacked even during cholera outbreaks, while in Ukraine, Russian forces targeted more than 2,600 facilities and restricted access to care in occupied areas.
International law grants hospitals, medical staff, and civilian infrastructure special protected status. Attacks remain unlawful if they are indiscriminate or disproportionate, even during wartime. Human Rights Watch has called on governments to comply with Resolution 2286 by improving data collection, integrating respect for humanitarian law into military training, expanding domestic legal protections, and restricting arms sales to violators.
The evidence shows that attacks on healthcare not only cause immediate harm but also undermine human rights long after conflicts end. As Bleckner noted, “Even in war, the right to health endures. The only question is whether countries will act or remain silent and allow such attacks to continue with impunity.”
