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The Coalition to Protect Healthcare in Conflict identified 2,562 cases of violence against or obstruction of health care in conflict settings in 2023, a 25% increase from 2022. More than 230 health care workers were kidnapped in 2023, almost all of which occurred in conflicts across Africa, except in Haiti, where gang violence has led to insecurity. Healthcare workers were kidnapped from health facilities, while traveling to remote areas to provide health care services, or from their homes. Most kidnapped health care workers were released within days or weeks of being kidnapped, sometimes after a ransom demand, suggesting that health care workers were targeted for what they viewed as their wealth. In other cases, kidnappings occurred at the same time health care facilities were looted. Eight kidnapped health care workers were killed by their abductors. In some countries, such as Cameroon and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, non-state armed groups abducted health workers for allegedly cooperating with other parties to the conflict, such as treating wounded combatants, or for failing to report on their activities in the region. Across the Sahel, non-state armed groups such as ISSP, ISWAP, and JNIM have kidnapped health workers. In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, armed groups such as the ADF, PAREFOL/FI, and M23 have been involved in kidnappings, while in Somalia, Al-Shabaab has kidnapped health workers. In Nigeria, most kidnappings have been attributed to unidentified men with guns, and in Haiti, various gangs have kidnapped health workers.
Explore this interactive map to see where incidents occurred. Access HDX data. Contact us if you're interested in our curated datasets.
