We, the undersigned, and the organisations we represent, are united in concern for healthcare workers, their patients, and healthcare facilities in Ukraine as a result of ongoing hostilities due to the Russian invasion.

As the leading bodies representing emergency medicine healthcare professionals across the world, we strongly condemn the attacks on Ukraine. We strongly condemn all violence aimed at healthcare personnel or healthcare facilities.

We are deeply concerned at reports of attacks on hospitals and healthcare facilities in Ukraine. Continued attacks on medical facilities and personnel in Ukraine must not continue.

In Ukraine, medics are on the frontline, working tirelessly to save lives while risking their own. The sanctity and safety of healthcare workers, patients, supplies, transport, and facilities must always be respected and remain neutral. Healthcare workers must be able to provide healthcare in a safe and protected environment without disruption from acts of violence.

All parties must adhere to the international laws that govern conflict situations including the Geneva Conventions of 1949 and the UN Security Council Resolution 2286 (2016) which strongly condemns attacks against medical facilities and personnel in conflict situations.

On behalf of the global emergency healthcare workforce, we send a message of solidarity to our colleagues and friends in Ukraine: we stand with you.

We know you are continuing to help those in your care, and we see your selfless acts of bravery. We will do all that we can to support you.

Professor Sally McCarthy
President, International Federation for Emergency Medicine

Dr Katherine Henderson
President, Royal College of Emergency Medicine

Dr Clare Skinner
President, Australasian College for Emergency Medicine

Dr Luis Daniel Sánchez Arreola
President, Sociedad Mexicana de Medicina de Emergencia

Dr Chip-Jin Ng
President, Taiwan Society of Emergency Medicine

Dr Aus N. Jamil
President, Iraqi Society for Emergency Medicine , Non Governmental Organization

Professor Dr Patrick Van de Voorde
President, Belgian Society Emergency & Disaster Medicine

Professor Arif Alper Cevik on behalf of
Board of Directors, Emergency Medicine Association of Turkey

Dr Michael von Schickfus
President, Swedish Society for Emergency Medicine

Dr Richard Santos
President, Philippine College of Emergency Medicine

Professor Juliusz Jakubaszko
Immediate Past-President/ Honorary Treasurer
Polish Society for Emergency Medicine

Dr Zsolt Bognar
President, Hungarian Society of Emergency Medicine

Dr David Baden
President, Dutch Society of Emergency Physician/ Nederlandse Vereniging van Spoedeisende Hulp Artsen

Dr Gillian Schmitz
President, American College of Emergency Physicians

Dr Martin M. Pin
President, Deutsche Gesellschaft interdisziplinäre
Notfall- und Akutmedizin e.V. (DGINA)

Dr G. Joseph Beirne
President, American College of Osteopathic Emergency Physicians

Dr Amy Kaji
President, Society for Academic Emergency Medicine

Dr Kåre Løvstakken
President, Norwegian Society for Emergency Medicine

Dr Axel Siu
President, Asian Society for Emergency Medicine

Dr Kirsten Johnson
President, Canadian Association of Emergency Physicians

Dr Steven HC Lim
President, Society for Emergency Medicine in Singapore

Dr Jesus Daniel Lopez Tapia
President, Federación Latinoamericana de Medicina de Emergencias

Dr Henrik Ømark
Chairman, Danish Society for Emergency Medicine

Professor Lisa A. Moreno
President, American Academy of Emergency Medicine

Julia Morphet
Executive Director, College of Emergency Nursing Australia

Sue Stebbeings
Chairperson, College of Emergency Nurses New Zealand

Dr Fergal Hickey
President, Irish Association for Emergency Medicine

DOWNLOAD

READ THE LANCET ARTICLE