Public Health On Call 987 - The Disturbing War Strategy of Attacking Health Care
Dec 15, 2025
Len Rubenstein, an Emeritus distinguished professor and health and human rights lawyer, dives deep into the alarming trend of attacking healthcare in conflict zones. He reveals that over 3,600 attacks occurred in 2024 alone, often executed by state actors using drones and explosives. Rubenstein discusses the lack of legal accountability for these war crimes and highlights recent hotspots like Gaza and Ukraine. He stresses the urgent need for stronger political commitments and advocacy to protect healthcare and preserve lives in war-torn areas.
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Early Work Tracking Hospital Attacks
- Len Rubenstein began working on attacks on health care during the Balkan wars in the 1990s and investigated many global conflicts.
- He saw few organizations tracking attacks and urged WHO to collect data to drive public health interventions.
Scale And Consequences Of Global Attacks
- The Safeguarding Health and Conflict Coalition documented over 3,600 incidents in 2024 across about 23 countries.
- Each attack reduces access, causes trauma, and has long-term effects on service availability.
Drones And Explosives Escalate Harm
- Attacks increasingly use explosive weapons and drones against hospitals as these technologies become more available.
- The weaponization of new technologies raises the frequency and lethality of strikes on health facilities.
