Secretary-General Strongly Condemns Killings of Doctors, Health Workers in Nigeria,

Says Attacks Could Have Devastating Effect on Fight to Improve Health Everywhere

The following statement was issued today by the Spokesperson for UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon:

The Secretary-General strongly condemns the killings of three doctors from the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, in north-eastern Nigeria, and of the health workers days earlier.  The Secretary-General offers his sincere condolences to the families of all the victims.

Those killed were working selflessly to provide basic lifesaving interventions to the most vulnerable people.  Such attacks severely limit health workers’ access to the populations who need them most and could have devastating effects in the fight to improve the health of people everywhere.

These acts of outrageous violence towards health workers around the world are unacceptable.  The Secretary-General encourages all countries to protect health workers so that they can continue to better the health of populations and save lives.

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For information media • not an official record