UN Agency Heads Urge End to Impunity in Middle East
On Saturday, UN agency chiefs issued a joint statement demanding an end to impunity for widespread international law violations in the Middle East. The statement was made six weeks into the war that began on February 28 due to US-Israeli strikes on Iran.
The UN Inter-Agency Standing Committee expressed alarm over sustained violations of the rules of war and international humanitarian law. “Even wars have rules, and these rules must be respected,” they emphasized.
The statement, penned by UN humanitarian chief Tom Fletcher and heads of various UN agencies for human rights, health, food, refugees, and children, among others, highlighted soaring casualties since the conflict erupted. Thousands of civilians were killed or injured in the last month alone, with hundreds of thousands displaced multiple times.
Essential services are becoming increasingly difficult to access as civilian infrastructure is destroyed – including bridges, residential buildings, water facilities, power plants, and homes. Health workers, hospitals, and ambulances have been targeted, along with schools.
The agency chiefs expressed concern about the impact on women, children, and others with specific needs, as well as global supply chains. Rising food and fuel prices are exacerbating these issues.
Since the beginning of this year, 14 aid workers were killed or injured in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, eight in Iran, and five in Lebanon. The chiefs strongly condemned all attacks on civilians, including humanitarian and health workers, and civilian objects. They called for accountability for all violations committed by Member States of the UN or armed groups.