TEHRAN – The Iranian Red Crescent Society (IRCS), has urged the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) to ensure the safety and security of medical and educational facilities during the U.S.-Israeli assaults against Iran.
The head of the IRCS, Pirhossein Kolivand, in a letter to the president of the ICRC, Mirjana Spoljaric Egger, wrote:
“I write with profound sorrow and grave concern to formally notify you of the joint attacks carried out by the Israeli regime and the United States of America against civilian, medical, rehabilitation, and educational facilities, which occurred today (on Monday) at 11:30 a.m. Tehran time, as well as in recent days in several cities across the country.
The IRCS strongly condemns, warns, and protests two aspects of these incidents:
First, the killing of a number of schoolchildren during attacks on educational and sports facilities, including a girls’ school in Minab (Hormozgan province), and a stadium hosting a program for female students in Lamerd (Fars province).
In these two places, children and adolescents with no connection whatsoever to any armed hostilities, were targeted, resulting in the death of schoolchildren. It constituted a manifest violation of the principle of distinction and of the special protection afforded to children under international humanitarian law.
Second, they targeted medical and rehabilitation facilities of the IRCS and other hospitals in the country, including the Peace Building of the Iranian Red Crescent, the Comprehensive Rehabilitation Center of the Society, Vali-e Asr Hospital, Khatam al-Anbiya Hospital, Shahid Motahari Burn and Trauma Hospital, and centers affiliated with the State Welfare Organization. These institutions operate exclusively for medical and humanitarian purposes in accordance with the Fundamental Principles of the Movement, provide services impartially and without discrimination.
The damage sustained has significantly disrupted the delivery of essential medical and rehabilitation services to critically ill patients, individuals with disabilities, orphaned children, and other vulnerable groups, thereby placing their lives at serious risk.
Pursuant to the four Geneva Conventions of 1949 and their Additional Protocols, medical units, hospitals, rehabilitation institutions, and humanitarian facilities enjoy special protection. Parties to a conflict are under a binding obligation to respect the fundamental principles of distinction, proportionality, and precaution. These principles, recognized as customary and peremptory norms of international humanitarian law, prohibit attacks against civilian objects and any conduct resulting in civilian casualties. Violations of these obligations may amount to grave breaches of international humanitarian law.
The Red Crescent Society of the Islamic Republic of Iran, as a member of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, reiterates its full adherence to the Fundamental Principles of humanity, neutrality, impartiality, and independence, and affirms that the affected facilities had no military use or function.
Accordingly, we respectfully request:
A clear and formal public position condemning attacks against children, educational and sports facilities, as well as medical and humanitarian institutions;
The activation of the supervisory and protective mechanisms available under the Geneva Conventions to ensure respect for the protections therein;
The adoption of urgent measures to guarantee the safety and protection of medical, educational, and humanitarian facilities and to prevent the recurrence of such incidents.
At a time when defenceless children and patients have become victims of these actions, it is expected that the International Committee of the Red Cross, as the guardian of international humanitarian law, will act with the requisite urgency and determination.”
Earlier, Spoljaric called on all sides to respect the rules of war and urged them to find the political will act with the requisite urgency and determination.”
Earlier, Spoljaric called on all sides to respect the rules of war and urged them to find the political will to prevent “further death and destruction.”
She warned that “a dangerous chain reaction” of military escalation was under way across the Middle East, with potentially devastating consequences for civilians.
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