Attacks

Several medical associations and non-governmental organisations have launched an initiative to tackle violence against aid workers in conflict zones. Priya Shetty reports. “In Syria, having a medical kit visible on your car seat can be more dangerous than having a Kalashnikov”, says Bruce Eshaya-Chauvin, medical adviser to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). “Health-care workers in conflict zones are literally being hunted down.”

Government and armed rebel forces in the Central African Republic’s (CAR) capital of Bangui have continued to engage in conflict since December 5, with civilians caught in the crossfire—nearly 400 have been killed since Thursday. Having operated in CAR since 2007, International Medical Corps’ local teams are monitoring ongoing developments and are responding to the escalating humanitarian crisis by delivering vital health care services.

Hundreds of thousands of people living in worn-torn countries are affected by attacks on medics, the Royal Society of Medicine (RSM) said. The comments come ahead of a meeting of leading medics and humanitarian organisations which aims to establish practical ways to protect healthcare workers in conflict. The meeting, which is hosted by the RSM, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and the British Red Cross, hopes to examine measures to protect health workers so they can safely deliver care in war zones.

A new report, entitled “Ambulance and pre-hospital services in risk situations,” sets out ways to make pre-hospital care and ambulance services operating in areas of armed violence safer. The report was unveiled today at the International Red Cross and Red Crescent statutory meetings in Sydney, Australia.

The AMA Federal Council has adopted the World Medical Association’s WMA Regulations in Times of Armed Conflict and Other Situations of Violence as formal AMA policy. The Regulations outline the duties of doctors working in armed conflict and other situations of violence and address the obligations of Governments, armed forces, and others in positions of power to allow health care personnel to fulfil their ethical duties to care for the sick and wounded, and to provide protection for health care personnel and facilities such as hospitals.