Sri Lanka: ICRC calls on warring parties to respect
hospitals and civilians
Reuters and AlertNet are not responsible for the content of this article or for any external internet sites. The views expressed are the author's alone.
Geneva/Colombo (ICRC) – The International
Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) is increasingly alarmed by the hostilities, including shelling, in the Vakarai area, where a hospital is located around which thousands of civilians have
gathered.
Under international humanitarian law, a hospital and its personnel exclusively assigned to medical purposes must be respected and protected in all circumstances and may not be the subject of attack.
As long as the hospital is not used to commit hostile acts, such as launching military offensives or storing military equipment in its compound, the hospital must not be attacked.
Civilians who have sought refuge in or near the hospital must – like any other civilians – be respected at all times, unless and for such time as they take a direct part in hostilities.
The ICRC calls on both parties to respect the hospital's protected status and to spare both its personnel and civilians who have sought shelter in the area.
For further information, please contact:
Davide Vignati, ICRC Colombo, tel: +94 11 250 33 46 or +94 77 728 96 82
Carla Haddad, ICRC Geneva, tel: +41 22 730 24 05 or +41 79 217 32 26
See also ICRC media contacts
This article on www.icrc.org
Under international humanitarian law, a hospital and its personnel exclusively assigned to medical purposes must be respected and protected in all circumstances and may not be the subject of attack.
As long as the hospital is not used to commit hostile acts, such as launching military offensives or storing military equipment in its compound, the hospital must not be attacked.
Civilians who have sought refuge in or near the hospital must – like any other civilians – be respected at all times, unless and for such time as they take a direct part in hostilities.
The ICRC calls on both parties to respect the hospital's protected status and to spare both its personnel and civilians who have sought shelter in the area.
For further information, please contact:
Davide Vignati, ICRC Colombo, tel: +94 11 250 33 46 or +94 77 728 96 82
Carla Haddad, ICRC Geneva, tel: +41 22 730 24 05 or +41 79 217 32 26
See also ICRC media contacts
This article on www.icrc.org
[ Any views expressed in this article are those of the writer and not of Reuters. ]
