The STONZ Executive team are shocked by the events in the Middle East and the increasing loss of life and injuries inflicted on healthcare workers and civilians since 7 October 2023.
The World Health Organization has documented multiple unacceptable attacks on healthcare workers, patients, and families in Gaza, the West Bank, and Israel, resulting in fatalities, injuries and the destruction of critical healthcare infrastructure. Healthcare workers have died and have been injured while on duty.
As RMOs, we are here to serve our communities and our patients and believe healthcare and healthcare facilities should not be put in harms way at any time. We have growing concern for our fellow clinicians doing their best to help and provide care; the STONZ executive does not support any acts of violence against healthcare workers and civilians.
We recognise that the New Zealand Government has recently called for a humanitarian pause in the conflict, and we acknowledge the statements of the New Zealand Nurses Organisation, The Association of Salaried Medical Specialists Toi Mata Hauora and the New Zealand Council of Trade Unions and like them we call for an urgent, peaceful end to the conflict.
We stand in solidarity with our healthcare worker colleagues on the ground, and healthcare workers in conflict zones around the world.