Libya: Health-Care under Attack

Between 1 May 2017 and 1 May 2018, the UN has recorded 36 attacks on medical facilities, personnel or patients, although the actual number is likely to be significantly higher.

Under international humanitarian law, which applies to situations of armed conflict, hospitals and other medical facilities, medical personnel and medical transport must be respected and protected at all times, while attacks targeting them are prohibited.

The paper calls on all parties to the conflict to take all necessary precautions in the planning and conduct of military operations to prevent, or at least minimize, the impact of hostilities on medical facilities and workers. It also calls on the Government of National Accord to develop and implement effective measures to prevent and address acts of violence, attacks and threats against healthcare providers and to ensure accountability for such attacks.

The findings reflected in the paper are based mainly on testimonies from a range of sources, including hospital staff, patients, humanitarian workers, human rights defenders and journalists.