More than 20 attacks on Iranian healthcare facilities since March 1: WHO

April 4, 2026 - 00:48

The World Health Organization has raised a grave alarm over a significant surge in assaults targeting healthcare facilities in Iran. Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus confirmed that more than twenty such attacks have been reported since the beginning of March, describing them as "multiple attacks" that severely undermine medical services.

These incidents represent a dangerous violation of international norms protecting health workers and patients, especially during times of heightened tension. Attacks on hospitals, clinics, and ambulances cripple essential services, preventing civilians from accessing critical care for emergencies, routine treatments, and chronic conditions. The WHO emphasizes that the sanctity of healthcare must be preserved under all circumstances.

The organization is calling for an immediate end to all violence directed at medical facilities and personnel. It stresses that healthcare is not a target and that protecting these services is fundamental to public health and human dignity. The repeated assaults have reportedly caused damage to infrastructure and instilled fear, disrupting vital lifelines for the population. The international health body continues to monitor the situation closely, advocating for the protection of healthcare as a universal right.