Medical Association for Prevention of War condemns the latest attacks on health workers and health facilities in Yemen.
Save the Children reports a missile landed within 50 meters of a hospital at 9:30am on 26 March 2019 in Kitaf, Yemen. The strike damaged the hospital, killing at least four children and three adults, amongst them a health worker.
Patients, staff and people at a nearby market were injured. Early reports indicate the hospital’s pharmacy was destroyed, and waiting and examination rooms damaged.
Airspace over Yemen is controlled by the Saudi Arabian-led coalition. All warring parties were made aware of the hospital’s location.
The International Committee of the Red Cross has reported more than 160 attacks against medical facilities and personnel in Yemen between 2015 and 2017. All parties to the Yemen conflict have been implicated in these attacks.
Attacks on health workers and facilities contravene international humanitarian and human rights law. With half of the country’s healthcare facilities destroyed, Yemenis are suffering and dying from preventable diseases.
We’re calling for accountability for attacks on healthcare, and for an immediate halt to Australian military exports to all parties to the Yemen conflict.
Add your name to Save the Children’s petition to stop Australian military exports to Yemen.
Around the world, seven hundred hospitals were bombed in 2017 alone. Sign the Colombo declaration to condemn worldwide attacks and demand greater protection for healthcare workers and their patients.