Three leading international organisations have warned that attacks on healthcare in war zones are worsening, despite global commitments to protect medical services.

In a joint statement issued on 3 May to mark the 10th anniversary of UN Security Council Resolution 2286, the International Committee of the Red Cross, World Health Organization and Médecins Sans Frontières said the situation today reflects a “failure” rather than progress.

The organisations noted that violence targeting hospitals, medical personnel and transport has not only persisted over the past decade but, in many cases, intensified.

“Today, we mark not an achievement – we mark a failure,” the statement said, highlighting the continued destruction of hospitals, obstruction of ambulances and deadly attacks on doctors, nurses and patients.

The agencies warned that such attacks have devastating humanitarian consequences, with patients dying from treatable injuries, women forced to give birth without adequate care, and entire communities losing access to essential health services.

They stressed that when healthcare systems come under attack, it signals a broader breakdown of international humanitarian norms intended to limit the impact of war.

The joint statement called on all states and parties to conflict to comply with obligations under international humanitarian law, including the duty to protect medical personnel, facilities and transport in all circumstances.

It also urged governments to take concrete steps to implement Resolution 2286, including integrating healthcare protection into military operations, strengthening domestic legal frameworks, allocating sufficient resources, and ensuring accountability through transparent investigations into attacks.

The organisations further emphasised the need for improved reporting and documentation of such incidents, pointing to existing mechanisms introduced by the WHO to track attacks on healthcare.

Reaffirming their readiness to support governments, the agencies said they would continue to provide medical expertise and operational assistance in conflict settings.

They concluded with a call for stronger political will from global leaders, warning that continued inaction risks another decade of worsening violence.

“Health care must never be a casualty of war,” the statement said.