WHA78 Side Event: Protecting Healthcare in Conflict: Strengthening Data, Accountability, and Global Response

Co-hosted by the Central African Republic and WISH/Qatar Foundation
Date: Friday 23 May, 2025 | Time: 19:30| Venue (Room): XXII, Palais des nations

Attacks on healthcare in conflict zones are a growing crisis, undermining international humanitarian law, disrupting essential medical services, and endangering the lives of health workers and civilians. Between 2018 and 2024, WHO’s Surveillance System for Attacks on Health Care (SSA) recorded 8,163 attacks in 22 countries, resulting in 2,948 deaths and 5,994 injuries. In 2024 and 2025 alone, 1,805 attacks have been recorded, further deepening the crisis. These attacks have immediate and long-term consequences, including the destruction of infrastructure, depletion of medical supplies, and closure of essential healthcare facilities.
Despite international legal frameworks, accountability mechanisms remain weak, and attacks persist with impunity. This urgent issue is at the heart of the World Health Assembly’s agenda, aligning closely with WHO’s 14th General Programme of Work and the shared priorities of WISH and WHO, as reflected in the joint “In the Line of Fire” report.

Event Objectives
• Strengthen Data Collection & Documentation: Highlight the critical role of WHO’s SSA and explore ways to enhance reporting, analysis, and response to attacks on healthcare.
• Sustain Global Commitment & Funding: Address the risks posed by potential defunding of WHO, emphasizing the need for sustained support for SSA and civil society documentation efforts.
• Foster Coalition-Building & Multilateral Engagement: Encourage collaboration among governments, international organizations, and humanitarian actors for a coordinated global response.
• Integrate with WHA & UN Processes: Align with WHA discussions and broader UN mechanisms, reinforcing the link between documentation, advocacy, and policy action.