Statement by ICRC President on escalating conflict in the Middle East

China News Service, Beijing, October 13. Geneva News: In response to the recent escalation of conflicts in the Middle East, Mirjana Spoliarits, President of the International Committee of the Red Cross, issued a statement on the 13th, calling for easing the situation and protecting civilians.

The statement pointed out that civilians are paying an unacceptable price for conflicts in the Middle East. The recent casualties and damage to infrastructure in Saudi Arabia have once again highlighted the devastating consequences of conflict on civilians. In Yemen, the scale of casualties, displacement and damage to civilian infrastructure is expanding at an alarming rate. Across the Middle East, civilian infrastructure has been repeatedly attacked, resulting in casualties.

The ICRC reiterates that civilians and civilian objects must be protected from attack. Parties to an armed conflict must at all times distinguish between civilians and civilian objects and military objectives. Attacks on ports, airports and critical infrastructure could have serious consequences. If the conflict in the Middle East further intensifies, it may have catastrophic consequences for tens of millions of people.

The statement called on all parties to make immediate efforts to de-escalate the situation and protect civilians from further harm.