Ongoing violence in Libya is having a devastating impact on health care, according to a Tuesday report [text] from the UN Human Rights Office and UN Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) [official website] studying the effects from May 1, 2017, to May 1, 2018.

The report highlights the effects of crossfire between armed groups on hospitals and other medical facilities. Many times the crossfire has led to deaths, the destruction of key infrastructure and closures.

According to the report:

Medical facilities have been looted. Armed groups, including those formally integrated into Ministries have subjected health care providers to physical and verbal assaults, threats, intimidation, and unlawful deprivation of liberty, contributing to the exodus of healthcare professionals. Access to essential health services has been further impeded by insecurity, delays at checkpoints and road closures.

In the report, there are a recorded 36 attacks on medical facilities, personnel or patients in the period under review. However, the actual number of attacks is believed to be significantly higher. There were fears of reporting and due to the security situations, some instances were not readily available to examine.