Middle East escalation puts civilians in ‘grave danger’: Red Cross
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The Red Cross said widening hostilities across the Middle East are putting civilian lives in grave danger.
PHOTO: REUTERS
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GENEVA - The spiralling war in the Middle East is putting civilians in “grave danger”, the head of the Red Cross warned on March 2, saying a large-scale conflict would outstrip any ability to help.
The war launched by the United States and Israel against Iran
“Widening hostilities across the Middle East are putting civilian lives in grave danger,” said Ms Mirjana Spoljaric, president of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).
“The scale of major military operations flaring across the Middle East risks embroiling the region – and beyond – into another large-scale armed conflict that will overwhelm any humanitarian response.”
The Geneva-based ICRC acts as the guardians of international humanitarian law, the set of rules which seeks to limit the effects of armed conflict.
The rules protect people who are not or are no longer participating in hostilities and restricts the means and methods of warfare.
“All parties to armed conflict have an obligation to uphold the rules of war, which are unequivocal,” said Ms Spoljaric.
“Civilians and civilian infrastructure must be spared from hostilities. Schools must remain sanctuaries for learning where children can feel safe and protected from attacks, and hospitals must remain sanctuaries for saving lives.”
The ICRC chief said medical personnel and first responders, including Red Cross and Red Crescent national societies, had to be protected and allowed to carry out their work safely.
In a letter to Ms Spoljaric, Iran’s ambassador in Geneva, Mr Ali Bahreini, said the US and Israeli attacks had seriously violated international humanitarian law.
“The deliberate and indiscriminate targeting of civilians and civilian objects – including hospitals, medical facilities and schools – constitutes a grave breach of the fundamental principles of distinction and proportionality”, he said, as well as protections afforded under the Geneva Conventions, which form the core of international humanitarian law.
Mr Bahreini urged the ICRC chief to condemn the strikes.
Iran “reaffirms its commitment to the international humanitarian law and expects full respect for the Geneva Conventions”, he said. AFP
