Rising ‘Deliberate’ Attacks on Civilians; ‘Brazen, Brutal Erosion’ of Respect for Humanitarian Law Everywhere

Many Bedouin and herding communities in Area C of the West Bank are prevented from improving or building shelters by the Israeli authorities. Photo: UNRWA/Alaa Ghosheh

“Such deliberate targeting of civilians and civilian areas is a clear breach of international law. The continuing violence is a clear indication that a political solution to the conflict in Syria is desperately needed – the fighting must stop now. There is no military solution to the crisis – not in Syria or anywhere else,” said Ban.

Additionally, he deplored the attacks on healthcare facilities and reiterated that they hold a special protected status under international humanitarian law.

Ban said that the attack on a Yemeni hospital in Saada last week is the 39th health centre attack since March and added that more children may die in Yemen from a lack of healthcare and medicines than from bullets and bombs.

He also condemned the bombing of the Médecins Sans Frontières hospital earlier this month in Kunduz, Afghanistan and said that the supposed surgical strike “instead destroyed a surgical ward”.

“These violations have become so routine there is a risk people will think that the deliberate bombing of civilians, the targeting of humanitarian and healthcare workers, and attacks on schools, hospitals and places of worship are an inevitable result of conflict,” said Ban.

He sounded alarm over the constant flouting of international humanitarian law across the world and added that the international community should bring the attackers to account.

“Enough is enough. Even war has rules; it is time to enforce them,” said Ban. “The continued failure to act is a disgrace and a stain on the conscience of the world,” he added.

He stressed that protecting civilians in wartime is the cornerstone in the international system and the UN and added that indifference on such issues will only make the world less secure.

“Today, the United Nations and the International Committee of the Red Cross are calling for an end to impunity, an end to the callous disregard for human life, and a recommitment to international humanitarian law,” said Ban urging collaborative action from the international community.

He further called for all influential parties to “pressure all parties in conflict to treat civilians with humanity and to abide by the law” and initiate political and diplomatic measures by bringing referrals to national and special investigative tribunals or courts.

Ban also urged on ending the use of heavy explosive weapons in densely populated urban areas, causing deaths of civilians.

He also called for allowing humanitarian access in conflict-prone regions to help people who need aid and asked the international community to give additional support to displaced population and refugees.

He added that the UN and ICRC are taking immediate steps to address these issues and added that the one of the main themes of the World Humanitarian Summit in Istanbul next May will be protecting civilians in conflicts.

“But international humanitarian law is not a solution. It is a way to mitigate the damage caused by war. Most of all, we call for greater commitment and effective action to prevent and end conflicts. Long-term solutions lie in treating the root causes of war and in negotiating sustainable peace,” added Ban.

He called for stronger commitment and partnerships among the Member States to maintain peace and security failing which “we can expect only greater chaos and suffering”.

Additionally, Ban also welcomed the talks on Syria that began yesterday in Syria and said that it was encouraging to learn that participants have reached mutual understanding on a number of key issues, including the need to accelerate all diplomatic efforts to end the war.

He also commended the efforts and commitment of the 17 countries and the European Union (EU) for launching this much needed political process.

“This is the first meaningful understanding among international actors since the 2012 Geneva Communiqué, and the first one to have been reached in the presence of all the countries that hold the key to a resolution to the Syrian conflict.

Let me also praise the leadership of US Secretary of State John Kerry and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov for facilitating this outcome,” said Ban.

Lastly, he added that although substantial differences still remain between the conflicting parties, Ban expressed hope that further progress towards Syrian-led political solution to the crisis can be achieved in the near future. (Source: UN).

2015 Human Wrongs Watch