Supervisor Elham AbolFateh
Editor in Chief Mohamed Wadie

UN: All Alleged Violations of Int. Humanitarian Law in Ukraine Must Be Investigated


Sun 13 Mar 2022 | 03:44 PM
Ahmed Emam

The Security Council extended its concerns over the latest direct attacks against civilians and civilian facilities in Ukraine.

In a statement released by UN,  Rosemary DiCarlo, UN political affairs chief, has warned the Security Council that direct attacks against civilians and civilian objects are prohibited under international law, and may amount to war crimes.

During this war, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) recorded 1,546 civilian casualties - including 564 killed and 982 injured - since the start of the Russian invasion.

The real casualty figures are likely “considerably higher”.  Most have been caused by explosive weapons with a wide impact area, including heavy artillery, multi-launch rocket systems and air strikes.

Furthermore, she said OHCHR has received credible reports of Russian forces using cluster munitions in populated areas - indiscriminate attacks, which are prohibited under international humanitarian law.

The World Health Organization (WHO) verified 26 attacks on health facilities, health workers and ambulances, causing 12 deaths and 34 injuries.  This includes the bombing of the Mariupol maternity hospital on 9 March, which she condemned.

In the same connection, Ms. Di Carlo went on to describe the targeting of civilians, residential buildings, hospitals, schools and kindergartens as “inexcusable and intolerable”, emphasizing that all alleged violations of international humanitarian law must be investigated, and perpetrators held accountable.

Ms. Di Carlo said humanitarian aid is being scaled up in areas where security permits and has reached more than 500,000 people.

The UN and partners have developed operational plans to meet humanitarian needs where they are most acute, she noted, appealing to donors who pledged over $1.5 billion to the appeal last week, to release the funding quickly.