ICRC EMPHASISES NEED TO PROTECT CIVILIANS AS VIOLENCE ESCALATES IN MIDDLE EAST

GENEVA, Sept 25 (Bernama-WAM) -- The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) on Wednesday appealed to "parties to the conflict in the Middle East to abide by humanitarian law and to protect and respect civilian life and infrastructure amid escalating violence,” Emirates News Agency (WAM) reported.

In a statement issued in Geneva, Christian Cardon de Lichtbuer, chief spokesperson of ICRC, called on "all parties in the region to step back from the abyss of a wider regional conflict that would plunge communities already affected by violence into a deeper crisis".

The last year has seen untold levels of suffering in the region, he said, and in recent days there have been new scenes of death, displacement, and destruction, with homes destroyed and loved ones killed.

He warned that civilians will pay the highest price if the conflict escalates further, and that the growing number of wounded is putting health facilities under pressure.

The ICRC emphasised that it is assessing the most urgent needs in collaboration with its partners in the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement to respond where the need is greatest, including supporting those displaced from their homes, as well as healthcare facilities.

-- BERNAMA-WAM