A new study by the ICRC reveals that at least 921 violent incidents against health-care personnel, infrastructure and wounded or sick people took place in 2012.

The law says hospitals, ambulances and health-care workers must be protected and should never be targeted as they carry out their regular duties. This is often far from the reality. Worldwide, the lack of safe access to health care is causing untold suffering to millions of people.

A guidance document in simple language for health personnel, setting out their rights and responsibilities in conflict and other situations of violence. It explains how responsibilities and rights for health personnel can be derived from international humanitarian law, human rights law and medical ethics.

As the fighting continues to rage across different parts of Syria, causing hundreds of casualties every day, the timely evacuation of the dead and the wounded is becoming a daily challenge in the areas hardest hit.