Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps the Government is taking to help protect healthcare infrastructure in conflict zones.

The UK condemns attacks on healthcare and is highly committed to protecting healthcare infrastructure in situations of armed conflict. International Humanitarian Law provides for the protection of the wounded and sick, medical personnel and humanitarian personnel exclusively engaged in medical duties, their means of transport and equipment, as well as hospitals and other medical facilities. The UK champions International Humanitarian Law and calls on states and non-state actors engaged in armed conflict to respect it. In 2016, with UK co-sponsorship, the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) adopted UNSCR 2286 strongly condemning attacks and threats against medical facilities and medical personnel. The Resolution recommended that better data is collected on attacks on healthcare, resulting in UK funding for a research project at the University of Manchester to assess the impact of attacks on healthcare facilities and staff in conflict contexts.