Attacks on healthcare rise as war strategy

TL;DR

BMJ analysis shows attacks on healthcare in conflict zones nearly tripled from 2020 to 2024.
Conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza drove most of the rise in attacks, deaths, and injuries.
Data suggest these attacks form a deliberate war strategy to deny civilians care access.[[1]](https://www.bmj.com/content/391/bmj.r2153)

The story at a glance

The BMJ examines rising attacks on healthcare facilities and staff in conflicts like Gaza, Ukraine, and Sudan, using data from the Safeguarding Health in Conflict Coalition. Authors Will Stahl-Timmins, Elisabeth Mahase, Madeline Hutcheson, and Mun-Keat Looi present graphics and tables showing a near tripling of incidents from 2020 to 2024. This is reported now amid ongoing wars spotlighting the issue.[[1]](https://www.bmj.com/content/391/bmj.r2153)

Key points

Attacks on healthcare infrastructure and staff nearly tripled overall in major conflict zones from 2020 to end of 2024, per SHCC dataset.[[1]](https://www.bmj.com/content/391/bmj.r2153)
Ukraine and Gaza conflicts saw sharp boosts in attacks, deaths, and injuries (detailed in table 1, not fully visible).[[1]](https://www.bmj.com/content/391/bmj.r2153)
Data from Insecurity Insight, hosted by UN OCHA, covers agency-sourced and open-source events on violence or obstruction of healthcare.[[1]](https://www.bmj.com/content/391/bmj.r2153)
Palestinian territories data includes Gaza, West Bank, and East Jerusalem; 2025 data not yet published.[[1]](https://www.bmj.com/content/391/bmj.r2153)
Interactive graphic (fig 1) maps attacks; downloadable data available via Flourish link.[[1]](https://www.bmj.com/content/391/bmj.r2153)

Details and context

The article draws on the Attacks on Health Care in Countries in Conflict dataset, which tracks verified incidents reported annually by the Safeguarding Health in Conflict Coalition. This reflects broader trends in modern wars where targeting healthcare disrupts civilian life more than direct combat.[[1]](https://www.bmj.com/content/391/bmj.r2153)

Full details like exact numbers from table 1 and further analysis sit behind a paywall, but visible trends point to systematic patterns in Gaza, Ukraine, and Sudan. Experts link this to evolving conflict tactics.[[1]](https://www.bmj.com/content/391/bmj.r2153)

Key quotes

“This is a very disturbing trend, and it’s a product of the types of wars we’re seeing right now,” says Len Rubenstein, professor and director of the Program on Human Rights and Health in Conflict at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore.[[1]](https://www.bmj.com/content/391/bmj.r2153)

Why it matters

Attacks on healthcare in wars amplify civilian suffering by blocking access to treatment, turning medical sites into tactical targets. For aid groups, health workers, and policymakers, this means higher risks and calls for stronger protections under international law. Watch 2025 SHCC data and responses in ongoing conflicts like Gaza and Ukraine for confirmation of trends.[[1]](https://www.bmj.com/content/391/bmj.r2153)