The International Committee of the Red Cross has identified 524 armed groups and militias in Africa and beyond that were responsible for the insecurity of at least 175 million civilians.
JUNIOR D.KANNAH / AFP
- The Red Cross said about 524 armed groups were responsible for at least 175 million civilians worldwide feeling insecure.
- The organisation urged armed groups not to target critical public infrastructure.
- The organisation's rule book attempts to minimise civilian losses.
The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has come up with "rules of engagement" it hopes warring factions in armed conflict abide by for the sake of protecting civilians in the crossfire.
This is because "direct contact and dialogue with armed groups enable access to territories and persons [the armed groups] control" for the aid agency to achieve its mandate.
The ICRC said it had identified 524 armed groups and militias in Africa and beyond that were responsible for the insecurity of at least 175 million civilians.
It said its handbook was in adherence with international humanitarian law.
"The handbook focuses on practical measures in doctrine, training, equipment, planning and conduct of hostilities that mitigate civilian harm in urban warfare in accordance with international humanitarian law and other relevant norms," the ICRC said in a statement.
The rules
According to the ICRC, the aim is to reduce civilian harm and even prevent it.
The ICRC said if it was impossible for an armed group to execute an operation because the area has many civilians, then war should be delayed.
This should be done through careful gathering of information and planning.
"Civilians and civilian objects like medical facilities, religious sites, schools and culturally important sites must be identified so that they must not be attacked.
"Infrastructure that supports vital services such as water or electrical facilities must also be protected," the humanitarian organisation said.
READ | Rights group accuses Burkina forces of 'massacring' 21 civilians
But in the history of war and conflict those strategic places are often the first attacks to destabilise the enemy.
In Angola's civil war, the late Jonas Savimbi, the rebel leader of National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (Unita), employed what came to be known as the "scorched earth policy".
Unita aimed to destroy anything that could be useful to its enemy, the ruling MPLA.
In recent times during the two-year civil war in the Tigray region of Ethiopia, government forces cut communication, restricted aid in a province hardest hit by famine in the country.
Religious and historical monuments were also attacked.
Some of the suggestions are:
- Only attack military objectives.
- Do not attack civilians, combatants who are wounded, sick or surrendering, or civilian objects.
- Limit destruction to what your mission requires.
- Do not use weapons or tactics that cause unnecessary suffering or injuries, or may have indiscriminate or disproportionate effects.
- Do not use prohibited weapons.
- Do not forcibly displace civilians unless this is necessary for their own safety or for imperative military reasons.
In early March, two ICRC workers were kidnapped in northern Mali by Islamic extremists and were released two weeks later.
Half of the ICRC's work is in Africa where it has been working since 1935 with its biggest presence in Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Somalia and Chad.
The News24 Africa Desk is supported by the Hanns Seidel Foundation. The stories produced through the Africa Desk and the opinions and statements that may be contained herein do not reflect those of the Hanns Seidel Foundation.
"conflict" - Google News
April 05, 2023 at 09:30PM
https://ift.tt/Bq29yfR
Red Cross introduces 'rule book' for armed conflict - News24
"conflict" - Google News
https://ift.tt/MKO84h9
https://ift.tt/p0dPlCO
Bagikan Berita Ini
0 Response to "Red Cross introduces 'rule book' for armed conflict - News24"
Post a Comment