Türk Denounces on Pager Explosions across Lebanon & in Syria

The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk denounced the recent explosion of pager devices across Lebanon and in Syria.

In a statement, Türk : "Widespread simultaneous explosions across Lebanon and in Syria on Monday, where detonating pagers killed at least 12 people – including two children – and left thousands of people injured, are shocking, and their impact on civilians unacceptable. The fear and terror unleashed is profound."

Hew continued: "At this extremely volatile time, I appeal to all States with influence in the region and beyond to take immediate measures to avert further widening of the current conflicts – enough of the daily horrors, enough of the suffering. It is high time leaders stepped up in defence of the rights of all people to live in peace and security. The protection of civilians must be the paramount priority. De-escalation is today more crucial than ever."

The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights also affirmed that the simultaneous targeting of thousands of individuals, whether civilians or members of armed groups, without knowledge as to who was in possession of the targeted devices, their location and their surroundings at the time of the attack, violates international human rights law and, to the extent applicable, international humanitarian law.

He concluded that there must be an independent, thorough and transparent investigation as to the circumstances of these mass explosions, and those who ordered and carried out such an attack must be held to account.