International Doctors Call for Urgent Action to Stop Attacks on Healthcare Workers in Ongoing Conflicts
New Delhi, India – The call for peace resonated loudly at an international seminar hosted by the Indian Doctors for Peace and Development (IDPD) on December 1st in New Delhi. Medical professionals from various affiliates of the International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War (IPPNW), including representatives from Australia, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and several Indian states, gathered to discuss and urgently address the growing humanitarian and health crises arising from the ongoing wars around the globe.
Nuclear Threats: A Global Concern
Participants expressed profound concern at the escalating number of ongoing wars worldwide, highlighting the dire health and humanitarian consequences. Notable topics discussed included the mounting threat of nuclear proliferation. Dr. Ruth Michell, Chair of the Board of IPPNW from Australia, shed light on the anxieties expressed by Nobel laureates at a recent conference in Mexico, emphasizing the concern over theEscalating arms race and the risk of nuclear escalation. “The consequences would be catastrophic,” she said. “We have no medical remedy for a nuclear event. This underlines the urgent need. We need a united, global voice demanding the complete abolition of these weapons.”
Protecting Healthcare: Essential for Humanity
The IDPD seminar focused on the alarming trend of attacks on healthcare facilities and personnel. A declaration drafted during the event succinctly echoed participants’ deepest concerns: “We condemn the targeted attacks on healthcare facilities and workers, a blatant violation of international conventions. Immediate action is crucial: we need to protect all healthcare workers, ensure immediate cessation of attacks on civilians and healthcare infrastructure, while restoring vital humanitarian aid to conflict zones.”
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We’ve heard from doctors on the frontlines of conflict. They’re calling for an end to attacks on healthcare workers and facilities. Do you think enough is being done to protect these essential workers, or are we failing them?