Pakistan has warned that attacks on medical facilities during conflicts are continuing at an alarming rate, even a decade after the adoption of UN Security Council Resolution 2286. The nation highlighted the urgent need for effective implementation, accountability, and the responsible use of emerging technologies to protect hospitals, medical staff, and patients.
According to a statement issued today by the United Nations Pakistan Mission, at the UN Security Council’s Arria-formula meeting, titled “Ten Years of Resolution 2286: Protecting Healthcare in a Changing Threat Landscape,” Ms. Saima Saleem, Counsellor at Pakistan’s Permanent Mission, reiterated the fundamental principle of Resolution 2286: healthcare facilities must remain places of healing, not targets, and medical personnel must save lives without endangering their own.
Ms. Saleem highlighted disturbing data from the UN system, showing that the situation remains extremely concerning. Repeated aggressions in conflict-affected and foreign-occupied territories are reportedly pushing healthcare systems to the brink of collapse.
She further explained that Pakistan, along with Nigeria, Spain, and Uruguay, is co-chairing Workstream Five of the International Committee of the Red Cross’s global initiative. This effort seeks to garner political commitment for the “effective protection of hospitals in armed conflicts” under International Humanitarian Law, demonstrating Pakistan’s commitment to practical measures beyond legal endorsement.
Ms. Saleem outlined five key priorities to address the escalating crisis. First, she affirmed that all relevant parties must uphold and ensure compliance with International Humanitarian Law, including responsibilities for the protection of medical and humanitarian workers, medical transport, equipment, and healthcare facilities.
Second, she emphasized the importance of preventing violations to bridge the existing gap between humanitarian principles and their practical application. This includes robust rules of engagement, secure access procedures, comprehensive threat assessments, meticulous operational planning, and thorough post-incident reviews.
Third, the Pakistani representative stressed strengthening accountability through credible documentation, impartial investigations, and decisive actions in accordance with international law. She insisted that the deliberate targeting of hospitals and healthcare facilities is a grave crime that should never be met with silence or impunity.
Fourth, Ms. Saleem advocated for the wise management of emerging technologies. She warned that cyberattacks on hospitals and the misuse of sensitive medical information could endanger civilian lives and erode the sanctity of medical care.
Finally, she stated that the most effective way to protect civilians is through the peaceful resolution of conflicts and disputes, in accordance with the UN Charter. She referenced the unanimously adopted Security Council Resolution 2788 (2025) to acknowledge the importance of peaceful conflict resolution.
Concluding her address, Ms. Saleem described the protection of healthcare as a legal obligation, a humanitarian imperative, and a true test of shared humanity. She stressed that when injured individuals come for help, the international community must ensure that doors offer refuge, not danger.