Reference :
V-F-CR-F-04098-A
Date :
04/12/2023
Title :
Statement given by ICRC President, Mirjana Spoljaric during a visit to the European Hospital in Gaza.
Duration :
00:01:59
Editor :
SANG, Chris
Confidentiality level :
public
Publication restrictions :
publication without restrictions
Production company :
ICRC
ICRC producer :
WATSON, Ewan
Description :
Geneva (ICRC) 4 December 2023 (ICRC website - press release)
The president of the ICRC, Mirjana Spoljaric, is in Gaza today to promote efforts to alleviate the devastating humanitarian toll that the ongoing conflict is taking on civilians. Mirjana Spoljaric is calling for the protection of civilians in Gaza and respect for international humanitarian law. She also reiterated the institution's call for the immediate release of the hostages.
This trip to the region will take place in several stages. A visit to Israel is expected in the coming weeks.
In Gaza, the President will meet ICRC staff, including the ICRC surgical team that has been operating as back-up at the European Hospital for the past three weeks. The teams on the ground are supplying other hospitals and providing livelihood support to displaced people.
For its part, the Palestinian Red Crescent continues to maintain the ambulance system and to provide first aid in particularly dangerous situations, braving all the dangers. Many PRCS volunteers and first-aiders have been killed on mission in recent weeks.
ICRC president Mirjana Spoljaric said:
‘The level of human suffering is intolerable. It is unacceptable that civilians have nowhere safe to go in Gaza and that, with the military siege in place, it is currently impossible to carry out adequate humanitarian action in the region.
The purpose of my visit is to advance efforts to alleviate a desperate humanitarian situation. I will express my deep concern for the plight of civilians and underline the ICRC's unreserved determination to do everything in its power to alleviate their suffering. Right from the start of the escalation of the conflict, we made an urgent appeal for the parties to respect the civilian population, in accordance with international humanitarian law. I repeat that appeal today.
Continued humanitarian aid must be allowed to enter Gaza unhindered. All persons deprived of their liberty must be treated humanely. Hostages must be released and the ICRC must be able to visit them in safety.
Last week offered a small humanitarian respite, a positive glimpse of humanity that raised hopes around the world that a way to reduce suffering could now be found. As a neutral intermediary, the ICRC stands ready to support further humanitarian agreements that would alleviate suffering and despair.
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SD/HD :
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Resolution :
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Aspect ratio :
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Original material/format :
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