The International Council of Nurses (ICN) stands in solidarity with nurses around the world who are working on the frontlines of humanitarian health care emergencies, whether human-induced wars and political conflicts, or natural disasters such as earthquakes, floods and droughts. ICN is immensely proud to support these courageous and resilient nurses who continue to provide much-needed care despite the personal dangers they face in their work.
To express its solidarity, ICN launched its Humanitarian Fund in 2010, initially in response to the Haiti earthquake, and its #NursesforPeace campaign after the invasion of Ukraine in 2022. #NursesforPeace has evolved to raise funds for nurses working on the frontlines of emergency situations throughout the world, and to draw public attention to the associated threats to public health care systems. Through its dedicated humanitarian efforts and funding, ICN has already supported nurses in multiple crisis zones, including Lebanon, Palestine, Israel, Ukraine, Myanmar, Afghanistan and Sudan.
ICN has consistently condemned the ongoing and increasing targeting of health care workers and facilities around the globe, and calls on the international community to denounce such actions in the strongest possible terms.
ICN President Dr Pamela Cipriano has written to the Secretary General of the United Nations, Antonio Guterres, asking for firm and decisive action to be taken to prevent the continuing illegal attacks on nurses and health care facilities in war zones around the globe, and warned against the normalization of such attacks.
Since its last update, ICN has continued to liaise with its network of National Nurses Associations in conflict zones and is offering support and solidarity.
In a recent interview, Abir Kurdi Alame, President of the Order of Nurses of Lebanon, told ICN about the widespread destruction and the nurses caught up on the frontline.
In a series of interviews with international media over the last few weeks, ICN CEO Howard Catton warned against the normalization of such attacks in the Middle East and other parts of the world. He emphasized the urgent necessity of enforcing International Humanitarian Law to enable nurses to continue their vital work. In an interview with CNN Türk, Mr Catton reiterated that peace and health are closely linked and that nurses should not be expected to risk their lives without the protection owed to them and other health professionals under international law.
ICN will be posting a new update focused on its humanitarian work in the coming weeks.
The support for #NursesforPeace demonstrated by nursing colleagues worldwide, reminds us that all nurses have a part to play in safeguarding peace and health in times of conflict, whether through clinical and community care, contributions to health research and policy, or by raising our collective voice for change.
ICN has been in close contact with the Order of Nurses of Lebanon during the recent escalation of the conflict in the last two weeks. Today, ICN CEO Howard Catton spoke to the Order’s President Abir Kurdi Alame, who described the devastating situation in the country and how nurses are being affected.
9 October 2024
On this, the first anniversary of the horrific 7 October attack on Israel, ICN calls again for the release of all remaining hostages and for peace to be restored immediately for the millions of people in the Middle East who live under the shadow of the current terrible conflict.
7 October 2024
The #NursesforPeace campaign continues to support and fund nurses who are living and working in conflict zones and in areas that have experienced natural disasters.
6 August 2024
ICN has written to the Secretary General of the United Nations asking for firm and decisive action to be taken to prevent attacks on nurses and health care facilities.
30 July 2024