Call to protect nurses and healthcare workers amid Middle East conflict

The president of the Royal College of Nursing has expressed concerns following the reported evacuation of a hospital in Iran due to damage sustained from a nearby airstrike.

Patients from Gandhi Hospital in northern Tehran were evacuated this weekend after the hospital was damaged in a nearby bombardment of the Iranian capital, according to the BBC.

In a comment to the broadcaster, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) stated the attack was ‘not targeted’ at the hospital.

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The RCN’s president Bejoy Sebastian called for the government to urge all parties to ‘de-escalate’, as pictures emerged of patients, including infants, being evacuated by nurses as well as workers helping to clear rubble.

Mr Sebastian said: ‘I’m deeply concerned about the escalating crisis in the Middle East. As UK nursing staff, we send our solidarity to all those affected and every health care worker dealing with the consequences.

‘It’s vital that every party involved upholds international law and provides protection to health care workers and health infrastructure.

‘Any killing, attack or intimidation of nursing staff or health care workers, under any circumstance or for any reason, is completely abhorrent and unacceptable.’

The situation comes as the United States and Israel struck Iran on Saturday, which killed Iran’s supreme leader and has since led to a series of retaliation in the Middle East.

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The RCN said attacks on health care workers and on health infrastructure was becoming ‘more common in conflict zones around the world’ and warned that such attacks placed ‘immense strain on those trying to deliver care’.

‘We’re calling upon the UK Government to ensure it does everything in its power to uphold international law and urge all parties to de-escalate,’ added Mr Sebastian.

‘We’ll also continue to pressure the UK Government to support the International Criminal Court to investigate and prosecute those responsible for attacking health care workers and facilities in conflict zones internationally.’

The director-general of the World Health Organization (WHO), Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, said the damage to the hospital was ‘extremely worrying’.

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He said: ‘WHO is working to verify the incident. But it serves as a reminder that all efforts must be taken to prevent health facilities from being caught up in the ongoing conflict.

‘Health facilities are protected under international humanitarian law. Health is not a target.’