Syria: Humanitarian convoys must not be targeted

Geneva / Damascus – On Saturday, 8 February, after several hours of negotiation, trucks from the Syrian Arab Red Crescent loaded with humanitarian aid and accompanied by a United Nations vehicle, entered the old town of Homs. These vehicles – clearly marked with the protective red crescent on a white background – came under rifle fire as they entered the area. One of the drivers was wounded. Mortar shells were also fired near the convoy. Joint news release by ICRC , International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies and Syrian Arab Red Crescent.

The International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement is deeply concerned about the failure of the various parties to the conflict in Syria to respect the Movement’s protective emblems and the resulting frequent threat to the lives of medical and other humanitarian personnel, including volunteers and staff of SARC. In any armed conflict, international humanitarian law prohibits attack on anyone – in this case volunteers and staff of SARC, their vehicles and buildings – bearing the red crescent or red cross emblem.

“Given the extremely difficult conditions prevailing in Syria today, especially in towns like Homs, it is absolutely vital for all parties to the conflict to facilitate the work of all humanitarian and health-care personnel,” said Abdul Rahman al-Attar, president of the Syrian Arab Red Crescent. “They must respect the red crescent and red cross emblems displayed on tents, buildings, vehicles and clothing and spare those bearing them.”

SARC, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies join in calling for immediate steps to be taken to protect health-care and humanitarian personnel. They strongly urge all parties to respect and facilitate their humanitarian mission. Without respect for the emblems and protection of those bearing them, crossing frontlines to save lives is all but impossible. The International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement also reaffirms that the parties must facilitate rapid and unimpeded humanitarian relief for civilians in need, and that the wounded and the sick must receive the medical care they need to the fullest extent possible. Civilians should not have to leave their homes in order to get access to food and other basic needs.

The International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement calls for access to all besieged areas in Syria and respect for providers of health care. Robert Mardini, head of the operations for the Near and Middle East at the ICRC, said all parties to the conflict must facilitate unimpeded passage of humanitarian relief for civilians, and stressed that much greater access to health care for the sick and the wounded must be a priority for all. “Under international humanitarian law, all parties to the conflict must allow civilians in areas caught up in fighting to leave for safer areas should they wish to do so,” he said.

Despite Saturday’s attack, the Syrian Red Crescent volunteers were able to carry on their humanitarian work and distributed 250 food parcels, 190 hygiene kits, and medicines for chronic diseases in Homs. Around 600 people were evacuated from the old city of Homs. Meanwhile, Red Crescent and other humanitarian workers managed to obtain access to Barzeh, in the suburbs of Damascus, for 47 trucks loaded with humanitarian aid. At Yarmouk refugee camp, the Red Crescent also gave first aid to the wounded and psychosocial care for people deeply traumatized by the violence, before evacuating serious cases to medical facilities outside the camp.

ENDS

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