FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

December 11th, 2024

MEDIA CONTACT: Logan Bayroff, West End Strategy Team

[email protected]; 516-965-5159

MedGlobal Strongly Condemns Russian Attacks on Medical Facilities in Ukraine

MedGlobal, an international medical aid organization that has engaged in humanitarian efforts to aid the Ukrainian people since the early weeks of the Russian invasion in 2022, strongly condemns recent Russian missile strikes on Zaporizhzhia medical center and Mechnikov Hospital in Dnipro, one of Ukraine’s most essential medical facilities.

As an organization dedicated to improving healthcare in Ukraine, MedGlobal has partnered with Mechnikov Hospital to provide specialized training for Ukrainian doctors, focusing on managing complex war-related trauma. On December 10, the medical center in Zaporizhzhia came under attack, resulting in 8 civilian deaths and 22 sustained injuries, including 2 doctors. 

This latest attack on facilities that have served as a lifeline for countless patients is directly counter to International Humanitarian Law (IHL), which explicitly protects healthcare facilities. It is also a direct assault on Ukraine’s health system and the communities it serves.

“Russia’s attacks on medical facilities in Ukraine is reprehensible,” said Joseph Belliveau, Executive Director of MedGlobal. “Health workers should never have to fear for their lives while providing lifesaving medical care.”

According to the World Health Organization, more than 1,940 Russian heavy weapons attacks have impacted healthcare sites in Ukraine since the beginning of the full-scale invasion, resulting in the deaths of over 244 health workers. These deliberate attacks violate IHL – the cornerstone principle of which is the protection of civilians in war – and undermine access to essential medical care in a time of crisis.

MedGlobal stands in solidarity with Ukraine’s healthcare workers, who continue to save lives despite facing unimaginable risks and challenges. We call on Russia to respect IHL, end these blatant violations, and ensure that Ukraine’s medical infrastructure is protected from further attack. We also call on the international community to do everything in its power to protect civilians and healthcare workers, and make it clear these violations to IHL are wholly unacceptable.

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MedGlobal is a humanitarian nonprofit organization that provides emergency response and health programs to build resilience among vulnerable communities around the world. The organization’s health programs support victims of crisis and conflict, refugees, internally displaced persons, and marginalized communities in disaster-affected and low-resource settings.