The IMO has “grave concerns” about the growing numbers of attacks on healthcare workers and healthcare facilities in areas of conflict such as Syria and Sudan.
The Organisation has recently written a letter to the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade Simon Coveney regarding their concerns.
In its letter regarding the conflict in Sudan the IMO note that the Irish health service depends on the service of a large number of doctors from Sudan “who are required to return regularly to Sudan to renew their passports where they risk also being targeted by military forces”.
“The IMO would urge the Minister to take immediate measures to ensure that Sudanese doctors in Ireland and their families are not at risk of danger when returning to Sudan,” reads the letter.
The IMO urged the Irish Government to use its influence with the Sudanese Government to end attacks on doctors and healthcare facilities in Sudan.
“Attacks on healthcare workers and healthcare facilities are in direct contravention of the Geneva Conventions and their additional protocols which protect healthcare professionals and providing care and treatment to the sick and wounded during international and civil conflict,” said an IMO spokesperson.
“The IMO is calling on the Irish Government to use its influence in the UN to put pressure on all parties involved in the conflict in Syria and on the Government in Sudan to ensure that doctors are not impeded in their duties to provide care to sick and wounded.”
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