Several United Nations agencies called this Saturday, in a joint statement, for an end to impunity for widespread violations of international law in the Middle East, specifying that “even wars have rules” that must be respected.
In a joint statement cited by AFP, those responsible for UN agencies for human rights, health, food, refugees and children, among others, said they were “alarmed by the continued violations of the laws of war and international humanitarian law” in the region.
“Even wars have rules, and these rules must be respected”, added the statement also signed by the Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, Tom Fletcher.
Those responsible denounced the growing number of victims since attacks by the United States and Israel against Iran began the war in the region on February 28.
“In just one month in the Middle East, tens of thousands of civilians have been killed or injured. Hundreds of thousands have been displaced, many of them multiple times,” they point out, warning that “the numbers continue to rise and essential services are increasingly difficult to access.”
According to the signatories, “health professionals, hospitals and ambulances have been targeted”, as well as “schools have been hit” and “civil infrastructure, including bridges, apartment buildings, houses, drinking water facilities and power plants, have been destroyed”.
The agencies also expressed particular concern about the impact of the war “on women, children and people with special needs”, recalling that “humanitarian colleagues were caught in the crossfire”.
Since the beginning of the year, “14 humanitarian workers have been killed or injured in the occupied Palestinian territories, eight in Iran and five in Lebanon”, stated the authors of the statement, condemning the “alarming” number.
Authorities from UN agencies also stated that “strongly condemn all attacks against civilians, including humanitarian and health workers, as well as against civilian property.”
“We call on all parties — whether UN Member States or armed groups — to respect their legal obligations to protect civilians, including humanitarian personnel, and civilian infrastructure,” they added.
Lusa
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