ICRC Urges Full Respect For Int'l Humanitarian Law In Syria

Tehran, Aug 6, IRNA - The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) is appealing to all parties to the conflict in Syria to fully respect the rules and principles of international humanitarian law, which is commonly known as the laws of war. According to a news release issued by the ICRC, the organization is more determined than ever to carry on with its work in order to meet growing humanitarian needs in Syria as the armed conflict escalates and takes a heavy toll on civilians in that country. "We urge all parties involved in the fighting to fulfil their obligations under international humanitarian law," said Robert Mardini, the ICRC's head of operations for the Near and Middle East. ''We have already shared our concerns bilaterally with the Syrian authorities and some opposition armed groups. We are now making this urgent public appeal so that it will reach the warring sides on the ground without delay and at the very time that events are occurring. The objective is to prevent further loss of life and further suffering among civilians caught up in the fighting.'' "Under international humanitarian law, the parties to the conflict must at all times distinguish between civilians and persons directly participating in hostilities. Attacks may be directed only against military objectives – never against civilians, or against civilian structures such as homes, schools or places of worship," said Mardini. "Especially where fighting is taking place in densely populated urban areas, such as Aleppo, Homs or Damascus, the parties must constantly take care in their choice of means and methods of warfare so as to spare, as far as possible, civilians and civilian infrastructure," he added. "Civilians must be allowed to move freely to safer areas." In emergency situations such as this, the availability of timely and appropriate medical care is often a matter of life and death, said Mardini. "The wounded and the sick must be able to obtain medical care without delay. All possible measures must be taken by the parties to provide people with the medical care they need or to facilitate their evacuation, without taking any account of what side they may or may not support.'' The Syrian Arab Red Crescent has already lost five of its staff members, pointed out Mardini. "Several ambulances have been shot at or stolen. This lack of respect has made the job of the Red Crescent even more dangerous at the very time when it is most needed." ''Persons detained, or otherwise in the power of a party to the conflict, must be treated humanely in all circumstances,'' he said, adding that murder, torture and other cruel treatment are prohibited at all times. Finally, the ICRC official insisted that ''all possible measures must be taken by the parties to the conflict to ensure that people who have fled their homes because of the fighting are safe and receive adequate shelter and health care.''/end