"We do not take sides, the medical mission is neutral": reject armed attacks in Bolívar (Cauca)

The Medical Mission of the Colombian Red Cross, Cauca Sectionand the Cauca governorate They rejected Armed attacks against medical staff occurred in the municipality of Bolívar, in the Colombian massif.

Lázaro Mazabuel, Head of the Medical Mission From the Red Cross in Cauca, he expressed concern and reiterated the neutral character of health personnel.

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“It is not a sanction, but a prevention. We comply with the norm: Health is for everyone, whoever. The medical mission, in the principle of impartiality, It attends to absolutely everyone without asking which group son, or who it is about. He is interested in the human being. We do not take sides, the medical mission is neutral, “he said.

For its part, THE GOVERNMENT OF CAUCA He condemned the facts and demanded respect for health personnel.

“Attempting against medical mission and patients is violating life itself. We demand absolute respect to those who, with neutrality and humanity, save lives In the middle of the emergency, “he said.

In addition, the departmental administration announced that convened an extraordinary medical mission table next to the Ombudsman’s Office to strengthen protection measures.

The facts

According to the authorities, the attack occurred on the road that communicates Bolívar with Popayán, when armed men intercepted an ambulance, They threatened the medical team and murdered the patient who was transferred.

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Days later, on October 2, Another doctor was retained and forced under threats To serve injured people in an unknown area, a fact that the Ministry of Health described as “a serious violation of international humanitarian law.”

Cauca authorities They reiterated their call to armed groups to respect medical and humanitarian work, and guaranteed that they will continue working for the protection of health personnel throughout the department.