From Gaza to Darfur, health workers are being killed in hospitals, in clinics, and in the communities where they care for the sick and wounded.

To mark World Humanitarian Day this year, the global humanitarian community is confronting the impunity surrounding attacks on aid workers and calling on world leaders to be accountable for upholding international humanitarian law. 

Despite 75 years of universally accepted international laws to regulate the conduct of armed conflict and to limit its impact, violations of these laws continue, unabated and unchallenged. Perpetrators continue to evade justice.

The killing or kidnapping and detention of health workers in conflict zones have soared to unprecedented levels; 2023 was the most dangerous year on record for aid workers, and 2024 is set to be even worse.  

Health facilities, including maternity hospitals, are being destroyed, damaged and looted in conflict zones around the world, cutting off access for women and girls to life-saving care, with catastrophic consequences. 

The safety of health workers, including midwives, and of those who need to receive care, must be guaranteed. Hospitals and health facilities must be protected from attacks and remain able to operate.

On World Humanitarian Day, we call on world leaders to make the protection of health facilities, health workers and the people they serve a priority. The international community must take concrete steps now to stop attacks on health care, end impunity for perpetrators and impose consequences for breaches of international law. We demand action.

Humanitarians at UNFPA deliver crucial services and protection to women and girls who struggle to survive when crisis hits. Our dedicated teams provide support to millions of women, girls and young people whose health, rights, safety and dignity are threatened in more than 60 countries across the world.

It is time for those who carry the guns to respect the rules of war. It is time for those in power to end impunity and #ActForHumanity.