KARACHI: The Pakistan Islamic Medical Association (PIMA) has strongly condemned the ongoing attacks on health facilities and health workers in Iran and Lebanon, warning that such actions are putting millions of lives at risk and severely disrupting access to essential healthcare services.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), since 28 February at least 43 attacks on health facilities have been reported, resulting in the deaths of 24 health workers. These incidents have significantly affected the availability of basic healthcare services for millions of people living in the conflict-affected regions.
In a statement issued on Monday, PIMA President Prof. Atif Hafeez Siddiqui said that healthcare providers and medical facilities are entitled to full protection under international humanitarian law. He emphasized that targeting hospitals, clinics, and health workers is a grave violation of humanitarian principles and further weakens already strained health systems in conflict zones.
Prof. Siddiqui also highlighted that the ongoing conflict has displaced around 800,000 people, creating a serious humanitarian and public health crisis. He noted that limited access to clean drinking water, sanitation facilities, and basic healthcare services has increased the risk of respiratory infections, diarrheal diseases, and other communicable illnesses among affected populations.
He further warned that environmental hazards, including petroleum fires and heavy smoke, are posing additional health risks to communities living in the affected areas.
PIMA urged the international community and relevant authorities to ensure the full protection of health facilities, patients, and healthcare workers. The association also called for unhindered humanitarian access so that medical assistance and relief services can reach those in urgent need without delay.
