At UN, Pakistan Proposes Series Of Steps For Medical Safety In Armed Conflicts

UNITED NATIONS, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 8th May, 2026) Pakistan has called for peaceful resolution of conflicts and disputes in accordance with the U.N. Charter as part of the measures to protect medical care in situations of armed conflict.

"Hospitals must heal, not become targets; doctors and nurses must be enrolled to save lives, not lose their own; and the wounded and sick must be protected, not deliberately attacked," Pakistan delegate Saima Saleem told the UN Security Council meeting held under Arria-Formula format named after a former Venezuelan Ambassador to the UN, Diego Arriva.

Thursday's meeting mark the tenth anniversary of the 15-member Council's resolution 2286, which addressed the protection of the wounded and sick, medical and humanitarian personnel, and hospitals and other medical facilities in armed conflict.

A decade later, Ms. Saleem, a counsellor at the Pakistan Mission to the UN, said the reality remained deeply alarming, adding, "In conflict situations, and in situations of foreign occupation, repeated attacks can push health systems towards collapse."

Arria-Formula meetings are informal that enable Security Council members to have a frank and private exchange of views on relevant subjects.

Denmark, together with New Zealand and Spain, convened the meeting.

Ms. Saleem reaffirmed Pakistan's firm commitment to International Law, saying Islamabad was convinced that protecting medical care requires not only legal reaffirmation, but practical implementation.

In this regard, the Pakistani delegate called on all parties to armed conflict to respect International Humanitarian Law, including the obligation to protect medical personnel, humanitarian personnel, transport, equipment, hospitals and other medical facilities.

"Prevention must be ensured before violations occur, including through rules of engagement, safe access protocols, risk assessments, operational planning and post-incident review,' she said.

The Pakistani delegate also underscored the need to strengthen accountability through credible documentation, independent investigations and effective measures against violations, consistent with international law.

"The deliberate targeting of hospitals and medical facilities is a grave crime and must never be met with silence or impunity."

Cyber operations against hospitals and misuse of medical data, she said, can endanger civilian lives and undermine the protection owed to medical care.

"The best protection for civilians is the prevention and peaceful resolution of conflicts and disputes in accordance with the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, as recently reaffirmed in resolution 2788 (2025) unanimously adopted by the Council," Ms. Saleem added.

"Protecting medical care is a legal obligation, a humanitarian necessity and a test of our shared humanity."

APP/ift