Russian Missile Strike on Ukrainian Children’s Hospital Raises Concerns Over Attacks on Medical Facilities
In a tragic turn of events, a Russian missile strike on Ukraine’s largest children’s hospital on Monday has brought to light the increasing number of deadly attacks on medical facilities, vehicles, and workers in the country this year. The strike on the Ohmatdyt Children’s Hospital in Kyiv resulted in the deaths of at least one doctor and another adult, with at least 10 other people, including seven children, sustaining injuries.
According to data from the World Health Organization (W.H.O.), there have been 18 deaths and 81 injuries from over 175 attacks on health care infrastructure in Ukraine in the first half of 2024. This marks a significant increase compared to the previous year, with 22 deaths and 117 injuries recorded in all of 2023 from 350 such attacks. The W.H.O. also documented 44 attacks on medical vehicles in the first half of 2024.
Attacks on civilian hospitals are prohibited under the Geneva Convention, and health care workers are supposed to be protected by all warring parties. However, Russia has been accused of repeatedly targeting Ukrainian health care infrastructure, leading some experts to suggest that these actions may constitute war crimes.
Despite Russia’s denial of purposefully hitting civilian targets in Ukraine, video evidence of the attack on the children’s hospital shows a missile striking the building. Christian De Vos, the director of research and investigations at Physicians for Human Rights, emphasized the importance of prosecuting such attacks in international courts to hold perpetrators accountable.
The increase in attacks on health care infrastructure in Ukraine has put a strain on the already stretched health care system in the country. Emergency workers like Christopher Stokes from Doctors Without Borders have had to constantly reassess their operations and pull back from areas that become too dangerous.
As the conflict in Ukraine continues, the targeting of hospitals and health care workers remains a grave concern. The international community must work together to ensure the protection of civilians seeking medical care and hold accountable those responsible for these heinous attacks.
