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UN demands protection for hospitals in conflicts
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Zabihullah Neyazi, 25 (right) and Khalid Ahmad, 24 (center) wounded in a US airstrike arrive for an interview with the Associates Press at a guest house in Kabul, Afghanistan, April 29. Survivors and the families of those killed in a US airstrike on a hospital run by the medical charity Doctors Without Borders in Afghanistan said Friday they were dismayed and angry that the US military personnel responsible for mistakes that led to the bombing will not face criminal charges. (AP/ Massoud Hossaini)
T
he UN Security Council has unanimously approved a resolution demanding that all parties to conflicts protect medical personnel, hospitals and medical facilities against violence and attacks — and face justice if they don't.
The resolution adopted Tuesday follows a spate of deadly attacks on hospitals, including one last week in Syria.
It expresses deep concern that the number of attacks is increasing despite obligations under international law that combatants protect medical staff and facilities as well as the sick or wounded.
The resolution was drafted by five council members — New Zealand, Spain, Egypt, Japan and Uruguay.
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said every country must do more than just condemn attacks, and act to protect hospitals and staff and punish those responsible for such violence.
