IV 

116TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. RES. 395 

Condemning the senseless attacks on hospitals and medical personnel in 

Syria, and for other purposes. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

MAY 22, 2019 

Mr. BRENDAN F. BOYLE of Pennsylvania (for himself and Mr. KINZINGER) 

submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee 

on Foreign Affairs 

RESOLUTION 

Condemning the senseless attacks on hospitals and medical 

personnel in Syria, and for other purposes. 

Whereas health facilities and medical workers are systematically targeted in Syria; 

Whereas since 2011, there have been more than 550 attacks 

on medical facilities in Syria and more than 890 medical 

personnel, including 250 volunteers from the Syrian Civil 

Defense, also known as the White Helmets; 

Whereas Physicians for Human Rights reports that 90 percent of the attacks against hospitals and medical personnel were conducted by the Government of Syria and 

the Russian Federation; 


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•HRES 395 IH 

Whereas the Government of Syria and the Russian Federation deliberately and strategically target medical facilitates and first responders to maximize casualties; 

Whereas United Nations Secretary-General Anto ́nio Guterres 

stated, ‘‘These attacks are evidence of a broader trend: 

parties to conflict are treating hospitals and health clinics 

as targets, rather than respecting them as sanctuaries.’’; 

Whereas there are specific obligations under international humanitarian law to respect and protect, in situations of 

armed conflict, medical personnel and humanitarian personnel exclusively engaged in medical duties, their means 

of transport and equipment, and hospitals and other 

medical facilities; 

Whereas there is an obligation under international humanitarian law to distinguish between civilian populations and 

combatants, and the prohibition against indiscriminate 

attacks, and the obligations to do everything feasible to 

verify that the objectives to be attacked are neither civilians nor civilian objects and are not subject to special 

protection, including medical personnel, their means of 

transport and equipment, and hospitals and other medical facilities; 

Whereas under international humanitarian law, persons engaged in medical activities shall not be compelled to perform acts or to carry out work contrary to the rules of 

medical ethics or to other medical rules designed for the 

benefit of the wounded and the sick; 

Whereas these acts of violence, attacks, and threats against 

medical personnel and humanitarian personnel exclusively 

engaged in medical duties, their means of transport and 

equipment, as well as hospitals and other medical faciliVerDate Sep 11 2014 00:11 May 23, 2019 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\HR395.IH HR395

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•HRES 395 IH 

ties, and obstructing the delivery of humanitarian assistance, including medical assistance, may exacerbate ongoing armed conflicts and undermine the efforts of medical 

personnel and humanitarian personnel; 

Whereas the United Nations Security Council adopted Resolution 2286 on May 3, 2016, which demands that, ‘‘all 

parties to armed conflict fully comply with their obligation under international law, including international 

human rights law, as applicable, and international humanitarian law . . . to ensure the respect and protection 

of all medical personnel and humanitarian personnel exclusively engaged in medical duties, their means of transport and equipment, as well as hospitals and other medical facilities’’; 

Whereas any deliberate attack on civilians in Syria by all parties constitutes a major violation of international law and 

undermines efforts to stop the bloodshed and reach a 

lasting, internationally negotiated peace through the Geneva and Vienna process; and 

Whereas the rate of attacks perpetrated on healthcare personnel have continued to increase dramatically: Now, 

therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 

2 (1) condemns the senseless attacks on hospitals, 

3 medical personnel, and emergency responders by the 

4 Government of Syria and the Russian Federation; 

5 (2) calls on all parties to— 

6 (A) end the attacks on medical facilities; 

7 (B) cease targeting medical workers; and 


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•HRES 395 IH 

1 (C) allow unhindered medical assistance, 

2 humanitarian assistance, and medical evacu3 ation of urgent cases to besieged and hard to 

4 reach areas; 

5 (3) calls on the Secretary of State to work with 

6 the international community to conduct full, prompt, 

7 impartial, and effective investigations of violations of 

8 international humanitarian law related to the protec9 tion of the wounded and sick, medical personnel, and 

10 humanitarian personnel exclusively engaged in med11 ical duties, their means of transport and equipment, 

12 as well as hospitals and other medical facilities in 

13 armed conflict, and, where appropriate, take action 

14 against those with a view to reinforce preventive 

15 measures, ensuring accountability, and addressing 

16 the grievances of victims in Syria; and 

17 (4) requests the Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster 

18 Assistance to conduct a feasibility study on the con19 struction of underground fortified facilities for the 

20 protection of the individuals described in paragraph 

21 (3). 

Æ 


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