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 Libya 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 Ajdabiya town, Al Wahat district, Cyrenaica 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, Tripoli, 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.