Attacks on Health Care Monthly News Brief September SHCC Attacks on Health Care 2020 The section aligns with the definition of attacks on health care used by the Safeguarding Health in Conflict Coalition (SHCC).

This monthly digest Africa comprises threats and Burkina Faso violence as well as protests 01 September 2020: In the Kabonga area, Kompienga province, Est and other events affecting the region, a medical student at the National School of Public Health delivery of and access to (ENSP) was kidnapped, by suspected JNIM or ISGS militants in the health care. process of robbing road users. Source: ACLED1 It is prepared by Insecurity Burundi Insight from information 14 September 2020: At Ntabandwa sub-hill, Rubungu hill, Rango available in open sources. commune, Kayanza province, a pharmacist was shot while his The incidents reported are not a pharmacy was raided by Red Tabara rebels, who stole medicines and complete nor a representative cash. The incident happened during a wider attack in which several list of all events that affected the civilians and local shops were also looted. It is unclear whether the provision of health care and pharmacist recovered from his wounds or died. Source: Radio have not been independently Publique Africaine verified

Cameroon Access data from the Attacks on 09 September 2020: In Goudjimdele village, Mayo-Sava department, Health Care Monthly News Brief Far North region, Boko Haram attacked a private Catholic health centre, on HDX Insecurity Insight. looting medical and food supplies. Source: Eons Intelligence Join our Attacks on Healthcare mailing list 23 September 2020: In Makoulahe village, Mora subdivision, Mayo- Sava department, Far North region, Boko Haram fighters looted a Follow us on Twitter and health centre. Source: Sembe TV Facebook

Get in touch to report an attack Conflict-related attacks on health care in Cameroon 2020 on health care or have Monitoring by Insecurity Insight identified 13 events from Cameroon additional information on an between January and July, compared to eight recorded by the attack we have reported on. Safeguarding Health in Conflict Coalition (SHCC) for all of 2019. Health facilities may be targeted by Boko Haram to obtain treatment for sick fighters and families. Security analysts have reported chaos in the Boko Haram camp following the deaths of over 200 fighters and their families from cholera. Read Insecurity Insight’s latest analysis here.

Central African Republic 09 September 2020: In Bangui, a Toyota Land-Cruiser belonging to the Dutch Red Cross was robbed in the early evening by three armed men wearing military uniforms who stopped the vehicle by pretending to be soldiers. The driver was unharmed. Source: Corbeau News

Democratic Republic of the Congo 11 September 2020: In Kisenso district, Kinshasa city, 14 men armed with blades raped at least two nurses and an unknown number of patients after breaking into Revolution Health and Maternity Centre. The 2020 SHCC report is The group also stole money and blood stocks and robbed several out! Read your copy here patients. Source: Election-Net

Attacks on Health Care Monthly News Brief – September 2020 Page 1 11 September 2020: In Equateur province, locally based Ebola responders have been protesting over low salaries and salary non-payment since the start of the Ebola outbreak, halting many activities. Source: UN News

21 September 2020: In Musuku village, Beni territory, North Kivu province, a health centre and 13 houses were set on fire in a raid by ADF militiamen who killed three men and two women and kidnapped an unspecified number of civilians. Sources: Kivu Security Tracker and Radio Okapi

22 September 2020: Near Kabumbe village, Fizi territory, South Kivu province, Mai-Mai Reunion (FPC) armed men robbed a vehicle belonging to the NGO Médecins d'Afrique/African Doctors, stole goods and destroyed two buckets of chlorine. Source: Kivu Security Tracker

23 September 2020: Near Masisi town, Masisi territory, North Kivu province, armed men robbed a vehicle belonging to an INGO and kidnapped the driver. The kidnappers demanded a ransom for the hostage's release. The hostage was released after a few hours of custody. It is unclear if the vehicle was also returned. Source: Kivu Security Tracker

Mali 04 September 2020: Near Parou village, Bandiagara cercle, Mopti region, an ICRC convoy of two vehicles was reportedly attacked by presumed JNIM militants. One vehicle was damaged by gunfire and the other set alight. No staff were injured. Source: ACLED1

07 September 2020: In Herba village, Ansongo cercle and commune, Gao region, an ambulance was fired at by gunmen. No casualties reported. Source: ACLED1

08 September 2020: In Barkaina village, Bourem cercle, Gao region, gunmen seized an NGO-rented vehicle that was being used as an ambulance to transport a patient, their companion, and a health worker. Source: ACLED1

Niger 21 September 2020: Near Zigui Zeno village, Banibangou commune, Tillaberi region, gunmen seized an ambulance. The ambulance driver and attendant escaped unharmed. Source: Urgence Tillabéry

27 September 2020: In Toumour village, Diffa commune and region, an ambulance belonging to the state medical centre was seized by ISWAP militants during an incursion into the village, in which they fired shots wounding a civilian. The ambulance was found the following day. Islamic State also claimed in a statement that the militants raided offices of the Red Cross, set fire to one SUV vehicle, and stole another. Sources: Jeunesse Diffa I, Jeunesse Diffa II and Twitter

Nigeria 21 September 2020: In Mairuwa town, Faskari LGA, Katsina state, gunmen abducted a male health worker from his residence. Source: Nigeria Punch

South Sudan 30 September 2020: In the Lopa/Lafon area, a male South Sudanese INGO contracted security guard was shot dead by armed persons at a primary health care facility. Sources: AWSD2

Asia Afghanistan 06 September 2020: In Kabul province, a doctor was shot dead by unidentified gunmen. Source: ACLED1

Pakistan 14 September 2020: In Tando Allahyar city, Sindh province, a Hindu doctor was killed by suspected fundamentalist Islamists who slit his throat. The victim had previously been receiving death threats. Source: Times of India

21 September 2020: On the outskirts of Kohlu town, Balochistan province, an unidentified group abducted five polio workers. They were later rescued by Levies personnel. Source: ACLED1

Attacks on Health Care Monthly News Brief – September 2020 Page 2 Europe Greece 17 September 2020: On Lesbos island, police barred MSF staffers from accessing their emergency clinic set up to assist victims of the Moria fire, amid a police operation to transfer homeless refugees to the new Kara Tepe Camp. Source: Bangkok Post

Middle East and North Africa 08 September 2020: In Bani Walid town and district, Tripolitania region, unidentified perpetrators vandalised and set fire to the administrative building and the emergency department of the Bani Walid General Hospital, attacking both auxiliary and health workers, prompting the closure of the facility. Source: WHO

10 September 2020: In town, Al Wahat district, region, a security officer attacked the only anaesthetician of the ICU of the Al Mogrif Hospital, threatening him with abduction or imprisonment. Hospital staff subsequently went on a strike in solidarity with the affected doctor, temporarily suspending activities at the ICU. The anaesthetician eventually resigned, leaving the ICU without specialists. Source: WHO

11 September 2020: In Abu Salim district, , unidentified perpetrators abducted a surgery professor of Al-Khadra General Hospital from in front of his private residence. Source: WHO

Syrian Arab Republic 14 September 2020: Between Al Rai and Al Bab, Aleppo governorate, a Red Crescent vehicle was caught in the crossfire of a firefight between armed men reportedly dressed in military uniforms. A Turkish Red Crescent staff member was killed, another staff member was wounded and a third staff member in the vehicle escaped unharmed. Sources: AWSD2, SNHR, and The New Arab

Yemen Around 14 September 2020: In Aden city, Crater district, Aden province, Saber hospital was stormed by unidentified tribal forces who then kidnapped a pro-Hadi soldier from the 83rd brigade (member of the Bani Muslim tribe) while he was receiving medical treatment. The victim was reportedly killed soon after his abduction. Source: ACLED1

21 September 2020: In Ad Durayhimi, Al Hudaydah province, a hospital was hit by artillery shells. No further information available. Source: CIMP

The Americas Mexico Around 22 September 2020: In Chiapa de Corzo, Chiapas state, the body of a doctor at the maternity centre at Jurisdicción Sanitaria número 1, who was reported missing on the 21st September was found inside a water tank in the Ribera Playa Vista kilometre 3. Source: Jornada

Conflict-related attacks on health care in Mexico 2020 The proliferation of criminal organisations in Mexico that display increasingly aggressive behaviour is spreading across the whole country. This violence now also affects health care workers. Since April, seven Mexican health workers have been killed and fourteen kidnapped, and two hospitals have been stormed. Read Insecurity Insight’s latest analysis here.

Venezuela 06 September 2020: In San Diego, Carabobo state, a doctor at the Hospital Dr. Enrique Tejera de Valencia had his house raided by Bolivarian National Intelligence Service (SEBIN) officers and was taken by force from his home to an unknown location. The SEBIN officers damaged the doctor’s apartment and confiscated a computer as well as documents. Source: El Pitazo

Attacks on Health Care Monthly News Brief – September 2020 Page 3 Global Health Insecurity These events go beyond the definition used by the SHCC to cover a wider range of events that affect the provision of health care including events perpetrated by patients or relatives of patients, private individuals and criminals as well as significant strike action or protests by health care personnel.

Africa Kenya Around 28 September 2020: In Nairobi, a male patient died outside the emergency ward of Kenyatta National Hospital after he was not treated for two hours by striking staff. Source AP

Nigeria 07 September 2020: Members of the National Association of Resident Doctors launched a nationwide strike over the non-payment of their COVID-19 hazard allowance and other demands. In response, on 09 September, the Nigerian Government directed health authorities to replace striking resident doctors with doctors in the National Youth Service Corps to provide routine services. Sources: Eons Intelligence and Sahara Reporters

Asia India 02 September 2020 (Update): In Uttar Pradesh state, a childcare specialist detained since 29 January under the National Security Act for allegedly inciting violence at a university was freed. Source: Vice

05 September 2020: In Pathanamthitta district, Kerala state, a paramedic driver raped a COVID-19 patient as he was taking her to the Firstline COVID Treatment Centre, Pandalam town. Following the attack, the perpetrator apologised and then threatened her not to tell anyone. Once she got to hospital, the patient reported him to staff, leading to his arrest. Source: Metro

The Americas United States of America 29 September 2020: In Florida state, a suspected ransomware attack of unidentified origin hit the Wellington Regional Medical Centre and hundreds of other hospitals run by the Universal Health Services, forcing the facilities to go offline. Source: 1290 WJNO

This document is part of the Attacks on Health Care project. It is published by Insecurity Insight and funded and supported by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) of the UK government through the RIAH project at the Humanitarian and Conflict Response Institute at the University of Manchester, and by the generous support of the American people through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). The contents are the responsibility of Insecurity Insight and do not necessarily reflect the views of USAID or the U.S. Government. The incidents reported are not a complete nor a representative list of all events that affected the provision of health care and have not been independently verified. All decisions made, on the basis of, or with consideration to, such information remains the responsibility of their respective organisations.

Suggested citation: Insecurity Insight. 2020. Attacks on Health Care Monthly News Brief, September 2020. Switzerland: Insecurity Insight, Attacks on Health Care Project.

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WHO SSA reported incidents in September 2020 This table shows the number of incidents reported by the WHO Surveillance System for Attacks on Health Care (SSA) in countries monitored by the Safeguarding Health Care in Conflict Coalition (SHCC). Incidents are broken down by attack type.

l violence/of l violence/of

Unknown

Setting fire Setting

ologica

arrest, detention of health of health arrest, detention

Sexual assault Sexual

Chemical agent Chemical

violence/intimidation

personnel or patients or personnel

# of incidents reported of #

Assault (withoutweapon) Assault Psych

ction,

personnel, facility transport or personnel, weapons with heavy Violence

Removal of health care assets care of health Removal

Violence with individual weapons with individual Violence

Obstruction to health care delivery care health to Obstruction

Militarization of civilian health health civilian of facility Militarization

Abdu Armed or violent search of health care care health of violent or search Armed Afghanistan 5 3 1 Libya 3 1 2 Nigeria 2 1 2 oPt 3 1 1 1 Yemen 1 1 1

Total 14 7 1 2

Date period: September 2020. Data accessed: 15 October 2020 See SHCC Methodology for information on how the SHCC uses this data. This information may change as the WHO SSA is updated.

1 Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project (ACLED) database attribution policy. Accessed 10 October 2020. 2 The Aid Worker Security Database (AWSD) does not include the names of individual victims or the agencies affected by an incident. This is done in consideration of the victims and their families who may not wish to have the names publicised in this format and to afford equal respect to the many victims for whom this information is not available. Accessed 09 October 2020

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