All articles tagged with #conflict zones
The article highlights the devastating impact of lack of vaccination in conflict-affected countries like Sudan, where children face preventable diseases such as pneumonia, diarrhea, and measles, leading to high mortality rates and long-term disabilities, compounded by war, malnutrition, and limited access to healthcare.
Pope Leo XIV has called for a global day of prayer and fasting on August 22, coinciding with the Queenship of the Blessed Virgin Mary, to pray for peace in conflict zones like Ukraine and the Middle East, seeking a disarmed and disarming peace and invoking Mary as Queen of Peace.
A new report estimates that over 14 million children worldwide remain completely unvaccinated, mainly due to conflict, access issues, and misinformation, highlighting the need for increased efforts and funding to improve global immunization coverage.
Moldova has paused its recruitment effort to send construction workers to Israel due to allegations of Moldovans being sent to high-risk conflict zones, having their passports withheld, and other abuses. The Israeli Labor Ministry confirmed the temporary postponement and stated that recruitment could resume once Israel ensures the security and respect of Moldovan nationals. Israel has faced a labor shortage due to the ongoing war in the Gaza Strip and has sought to attract more foreign workers, including from Moldova. The bilateral agreement between Moldova and Israel, which includes restrictions and regulations, has been temporarily halted pending the resolution of the reported irregularities.
Attacks on health care facilities and personnel are on track to reach a record high in 2023, with 1,989 attacks reported in 2022, the highest in a decade. Ongoing conflicts in countries like Sudan, Syria, Ukraine, and the recent conflict between Israel and Hamas have seen health care deliberately targeted, violating international humanitarian law. The attacks not only result in devastating consequences for patients but also undermine the credibility of fighting forces. Global health officials are alarmed by the increasing severity and frequency of attacks, which indicate a loss of respect for the sanctity of health care. The erosion of the norm to protect health care facilities and workers needs to be addressed through strengthened international efforts and accountability for violators.
Violence and threats against hospitals, health care facilities, and their personnel reached a grim milestone in 2022, with 1,989 such incidents documented by the Safeguarding Health in Conflict Coalition (SHCC), a 45% increase over 2021 and the worst total number since the group began tracking the data a decade ago. The report details that at least 232 health workers were killed, 298 were kidnapped, and 294 arrested on charges such as supporting anti-government forces, participating in protests, or even just reporting the causes of protesters' injuries and deaths. The destruction of 704 different health facilities in 25 countries adds to the dearth of health care in conflict zones, leaving patients without a place to seek treatment or fearful of visiting facilities that may be attacked.