Hospitals are not a target

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On April 27, 2016, the Al Quds hospital in Aleppo, Syria, was hit by airstrikes, killing at least 14 people – unsuspecting people supposedly protected under international humanitarian law.

The Humanitarian Coalition strongly condemns this act and calls on the international community to bring a swift end to the war in Syria. We join our voice to Doctors Without Borders, which supported the Al Quds hospital, in calling for the protection of humanitarian workers, health facilities, schools and civilian actors.  Medical facilities are Not A Target (see campaign).

This wasn’t the first hospital to be bombed during the Syrian conflict. In fact, Doctors Without Borders reports that in 2015, there were 94 attacks on 63 hospitals and clinics it supports. In February of this year, Physicians for Human Rights had counted 346 attacks on medical facilities since the start of the conflict in 2011.

On May 3, 2016, the United Nations Security Council will vote on a resolution designed to stop future attacks against hospitals, patients and civilians in war zones.  UN member states should take this opportunity for a strong recommitment to humanitarian law in theatres of conflict.  

We join our voices to Doctors Without Borders in wanting this resolution to:

• Reaffirm all countries' existing obligations under international humanitarian law (IHL); 
• Reaffirm the protection of the impartial provision of medical care, health workers and of all patients, regardless of their background (as per IHL)
• Establish effective independent investigations to report attacks on medical facilities and hold accountable those who attack.