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Attacks on health care were relentless in 2025. Using data collected by Insecurity Insight, the Safeguarding Health in Conflict Coalition (SHCC) recorded 2,546 incidents in 33 countries in which damage to or the destruction of health care facilities was reported on at least 790 occasions, 455 health workers were killed, 218 kidnapped and 263 arrested
In 2025, violence by state actors was reported in 26 countries and territories, an increase of nine compared to 2024. Over 80% of these incidents involved state actors attacking health care outside their own territory, including through cross-border operations or attacks in contested areas. The vast majority of such incidents were attributed to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) in Iran, Lebanon, the oPt, Syria, and Yemen and to Russian forces in Ukraine. Other state actors linked to attacks on health care outside their own territories included the Bolivarian National Intelligence Service (in Venezuela), the Burundi National Defence Force (in the DRC), the Indian Armed Forces (in Pakistan), Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (in Israel), the Turkish Armed Forces (in Syria), the US Armed Forces (in Yemen), and the Ukrainian Armed Forces (in Russia).
The report includes detailed profiles of 21 countries and territories where many acts of violence against health care by state parties and non-state armed groups, including organized criminal groups, took place. These include:
- Africa: Burkina Faso, Cameroon, the CAR, the DRC, Ethiopia, Mali, Nigeria, Somalia, South Sudan and Sudan
- Asia: Myanmar and Pakistan
- Middle East and Europe: Lebanon, Iran, the occupied Palestinian territory; Syria, Ukraine and Yemen
- The Americas: Colombia, Haiti and Mexico
- Year in Review: 2025; 2024; 2023
HCC Attacks on Health Care
This section aligns with the definition of attacks on health care used by the Safeguarding Health in Conflict Coalition (SHCC)
AfricaDemocratic Republic of the Congo23-24 July 2026: In Masisi rural commune, Masisi territory, North Kivu province, pharmacies were forced to close due to clashes between AFC/M23 and Wazalendo fighters. They reopened on 25 July 2026 after security conditions improved
02 August 2026: In Buleusa rural locality, Ikobo groupment, Walikale territory, North Kivu province, an unspecified number of pharmacies were looted of medicines by Wazalendo fighters during a raid on the area around 2300hrs. Actualite
Publicly reported incidents affecting Ebola response measures in the DRC25 July 2026: In Bunia city, Ituri province, doctors, nurses, and security staff at Elikya Ebola Treatment Centre went on strike over two months of unpaid performance bonuses, bringing operations at the facility to a standstill and disrupting Ebola patient care. At around 100 health workers demonstrated outside the treatment centre and suspended work until concrete solutions were provided to resolve the payment dispute. Sources:CBCandSky News
27 July 2026: In Bulengera commune, Butembo city, North Kivu province, Zawadi Mapendo Health Post was set on fire by unidentified men following rumours that a health worker was deliberately infecting patients or falsely diagnosing them with Ebola before transferring them to Katwa Ebola Treatment Centre
28-29 July 2026: In Kavikene locality, Congo ya Sika district, Butembo city, North Kivu province, Crinovic Hospital Centre was set on fire and destroyed by unidentified perpetrators overnight after its director was accused by local residents of killing patients under the pretext of Ebola
31 July 2026: In Kyaghala neighbourhood, Butembo city, North Kivu province, a team conducting a safe Ebola burial was obstructed by residents, who demanded that the coffin be opened to verify the identity of the deceased. Several young people subsequently handled the body, disrupting established Ebola safe burial procedures
01 August 2026: In Cité Belge neighbourhood, Bungulu commune, Beni city, North Kivu province, an ambulance sent to evacuate an Ebola patient was stoned by demonstrators, who broke its windshield. Police fired warning shots to disperse the demonstrators
03–04 August 2026: In Bunia city, Ituri province, Ebola response workers staged a protest outside an Ebola treatment centre, calling for the government to pay salaries and allowances that they said were nearly three months overdue
03–04 August 2026: In Rwampara locality, Irumu territory, Ituri province, Ebola response workers staged a protest outside an Ebola treatment centre, calling for the government to pay salaries and allowances that they said were nearly three months overdue
03–04 August 2026: In Mongbwalu town, Djugu territory, Ituri province, Ebola response workers staged a protest outside an Ebola treatment centre, calling for the government to pay salaries and allowances that they said were nearly three months overdue. On 04 August, police dispersed the demonstrators after they disrupted activities outside a hospital
04 August 2026: In Nia Nia village, Mambasa territory, Ituri province, an Ebola treatment centre was pelted with projectiles by a group of young men, prompting police to fire warning shots
Data from Insecurity Insight shows that since the outbreak on 21 May and 04 August 2026, 35 attacks on Ebola response measures have been reported in the DRC. Ebola treatment centres have been attacked and damaged 11 times, including five cases of facilities being deliberately set on fire. In addition, nine response workers have been injured and another 12 kidnapped. Data available on HDX (see dataset Ebola Bundibugyo Virus Disease Crisis Attacks on Health Incident Data).
SHCC Chapters: EN: 2025; 2024; 2023; 2022; 2021. FR: 2025; 2024; 2023; 2022; 2021
EthiopiaBetween 21-25 July 2026: In Lijengus woreda, Dega Damot woreda, West Gojjam zone, Amhara region, an unspecified number of medical clinics were looted by ENDF members
Mali28 July 2026: In Ansongo commune, Gao region, Bara Health Centre was raided by unidentified armed men at around 1900hrs. A nurse was injured during the attack and a tricycle used as an ambulance was stolen
29 July 2026: In Talhandak town, Kidal region, a medical clinic was struck by Shahed suicide drones reportedly operated by the Malian military and the Russian Africa Corps at approximately 0300hrs. One person was killed and another was seriously injured
Sudan
Incident briefs: 22 July-04 August; 08-21 July; 24 June-07 July; 10-23 June; 27 May-09 June; 13-26 May; 29 April-12 May; 15-28 April; 01-14 April; 18-31 March; 04-17 March; 18 February-03 March; 04-17 February; All
SHCC Chapters: EN: 2025; 2024; 2023; 2022; 2021. AR: 2025; 2024; 2023; 2022; 2021
Myanmar
Incident briefs: 22 July-04 August; 08-21 July; 24 June-07 July; 10-23 June; 27 May-09 June; 13-26 May; 29 April-12 May; 15-28 April; 01-14 April; 18-31 March; 04-17 March; 18 February-03 March; 04-17 February; All
SHCC Chapters: EN: 2025; 2024; 2023: 2022; 2021. MY: 2025; 2024; 2023
EuropeUkraine22 July 2026: In Oleshky city and urban hromada, Kherson raion and oblast, two ambulances were blown up by a landmine near the central market. The driver of one of the cars was seriously injured in the explosion. He was taken to the Oleshkivska Central District Hospital in extremely serious condition. He later died
30 July 2026: In Khotimlia village, Chuhuiv raion, Kharkiv oblast, an ambulance was damaged by a Russian drone
03 August 2026: In Kherson oblast, a medical facility and residential buildings were damaged by Russian shelling
04 August 2026: In Zaporizhzhia city, raion and oblast, Zaporizhzhia Regional Children’s Clinical Hospital was struck and damaged by Russian aerial bombs. The facade and windows were damaged
Using data collected by Insecurity Insight, the Safeguarding Health in Conflict Coalition (SHCC) identified613 incidentsof violence against or obstruction of health care in Ukraine in 2025. Hospitals, including maternity and children’s facilities, pharmacies, and warehouses, were damaged or destroyed by explosive weapons use on 382 separate occasions in 2025. There is strong evidence of cluster munitions having damaged hospitals in at least two cases in Sumska oblast in May and June 2025.4 For example, on May 12, at around 2 a.m., four Russian Tornado missiles armed with cluster munitions struck and damaged a paramedic and obstetrics center, a school, a cultural center, a gas pipeline, and power lines in Mykolaiv settlement.
SHCC Chapters: EN: 2025; 2024; 2023; 2022. UK: 2025; 2024; 2023
Middle East and North AfricaLebanon21 July 2026: In Zawtar al-Sharqiyah municipality, Nabatieh governorate, four members of the Lebanese Red Cross were injured when a landmine from previous conflicts detonated while their convoy was traveling on the Maifdoun-Zawtar road
25 July 2026: In Al-Awaini neighbourhood, Bint Jbeil city and district, Nabatieh governorate, the Social Affairs Centre, which includes a nursery and a medical clinic, was destroyed by Israeli forces in the morning
Occupied Palestinian territory
Incident briefs: 22 July-04 August; 08-21 July; 24 June-07 July; 10-23 June; 27 May-09 June; 13-26 May; 29 April-12 May; 15-28 April; 01-14 April; 18-31 March; 04-17 March; 18 February-03 March; 04-17 February; All
SHCC Chapters: AR: 2025;2024; 2023; 2022; 2021. EN: 2025;2024;2023; 2022; 2021
YemenAs reported on 31 July 2026: In Houthi-controlled areas, Houthi authorities obstructed the delivery, transport and distribution of vaccines and immunisation services, disrupting the National Programme on Immunization (NEPI), vaccination campaigns, the movement of health teams, and the activities of humanitarian organisations, thereby restricting children’s access to essential vaccines. Sources:Al Jazeera,Erem NewsandKhabar Agency
The AmericasColombia01 August 2026: In San Vicente del Caguán city, Caquetá department, an ambulance belonging to San Rafael Hospital, heading to support the transfer of a pregnant patient, was damaged after it was attacked with stones and set on fire by protestors during riots following the eviction of the Nueva Colombia settlement
01 August 2026: In Supía town, Caldas department, a doctor was shot and killed at his office by an unidentified armed man at around 0745hrs. The doctor was also a former candidate for the Caldas Assembly for the New Liberal party
Haiti25 July 2026: In Port-au-Prince city and arrondissement, West department, in front of the Peace Hospital, heavily armed gang members intercepted a vehicle and opened sustained live fire in an attempt to abduct a businessman and his father
As reported on 27 July 2026: In Port-au-Prince city and arrondissement, West department, as of late July, only 26% of medical facilities in Port-au-Prince were operational due to transit blockades. Moving a patient securely by ambulance between districts has become virtually impossible, forcing families to rely on dangerous commercial motorbike transport
Mexico25 July 2026: In Lomas del Country neighbourhood, Guadalajara city, Jalisco state, a private hospital security guard was killed by a group of armed men with knives while working
