WHO Urges Global Leaders to Protect Healthcare Workers Amid Rising Attacks in Conflict Zones
Geneva, August 19, 2025 — As violent conflicts and humanitarian crises intensify worldwide, the World Health Organization (WHO) has sounded a fresh alarm over the growing trend of deliberate attacks on healthcare systems and workers. WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, alongside Global Health Cluster partners, issued a powerful appeal urging world leaders to safeguard medical staff operating in the most dangerous environments.
According to WHO, assaults on hospitals, clinics, ambulances, and health workers have become distressingly routine in conflict-affected areas. These attacks not only endanger frontline workers but also leave vulnerable populations without essential medical assistance. “In a world shaped increasingly by conflict, attacks on healthcare have become horrifyingly routine,” Dr. Tedros warned, calling on governments and international organizations to step up collective action.
Healthcare workers often put their lives at risk to provide emergency treatment, vaccinations, maternal care, and life-saving interventions amid war, displacement, and natural disasters. WHO emphasized that targeting healthcare is a direct violation of international humanitarian law and undermines efforts to protect civilians in crisis.
The Global Health Cluster — a network of international organizations coordinating humanitarian health responses — joined WHO in urging states to reaffirm their commitment to safeguarding healthcare facilities and staff. They stressed that without secure medical infrastructure, entire communities face heightened risks of disease outbreaks, untreated injuries, and preventable deaths.
“Health workers are the backbone of humanitarian response,” Tedros stated. “Protecting them is not optional; it is a moral duty and a global responsibility. We call on leaders everywhere to #ActForHumanity.”
The appeal comes at a time when conflicts in multiple regions, from the Middle East to Africa and Eastern Europe, continue to devastate civilian populations. By prioritizing the safety of healthcare providers, WHO insists the international community can help preserve human dignity and uphold the fundamental right to health, even in the darkest of times.
