ICRC(+EU) for Humanitarian Law in East Ukraine=>Fast aid Access, No Army Escort, Stop hitting People

*Strasbourg/- At the eve of the 1st massive Humanitarian Aid Convoy's arrival at Eastern Ukraine, due Tomorrow Morning through nearby Russian borders for delivery by a Key-Actor: the Red Cross' International Committee from nearby Geneva (Switzerland), both ICRC itself, as well as EU Commissioner for Humanitarian aid, Kristalina Georgieva, (comp. her previous Statements to "EuroFora"), echoing and developing further an EU Parliament's quasi-Unanimous Amendment Voted last July in Strasbourg, clearly urged all parties involved, to guarantee Free Access on the spot for Humanitarian Aid by Independent and Neutral organisations, to abstain from any attempts to impose "Military Escorts" to it,  and, in general, to Respect "International Humanitarian Law", which focuses mainly on the Need to Protect Civilians, (instead of targetting them), and all Wounded People in any Armed Conflicts.

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    - In particular, ICRC, (echoing the Dramatic Findings also of a relevant UN Report), stressed friom the outset that the World-famous Humanitarian Organisation "is Extremely Concerned about the Plight of People in Need of Assistance and Protection, as a result of Conflict in Eastern Ukraine", observing that "it is Urgent that Aid reaches People in Lugansk and in other areas.. which have sustained Heavy Fighting", considering, in particular, also the fact that "Thousands of People are reported to live Without Access to Water, Electricity and Medical aid", in a "situation (which) is Critical", as Laurent Corbaz, ICRC's Head of Europe/Central Asia operations denounced.     

+ Meanwhile, according to several converging International sources (UNO, OSCE, HRW, WHO, etc), about 1.200 Civilians have been Killed, (out of a Total of more than 2.000 Dead), and much more than 4.400 People Wounded, until August 7 : But "Real Numbers are likely to be much Higher", according to the UNO, who warned that "It's imperative ... to find a way out of this Murderous and potentially even more Explosive Crisis", where "at least 50 People are being Killed or Wounded every Day".

In addition, some 120.000 People were forced to be Displaced elsewhere in Ukraine (mainly at Odessa, etc), and almost 730.00 Refugees fled to Russia.

    => Therefore, ICRC "emphasized that the Parties to the Conflict have an Obligation to Allow and Facilitate the Rapid and Unimpeded Passage of Humanitarian Relief for Civilians in Need", and that "this includes the Agreement by all Sides that the ICRC will be Allowed to Deliver the Aid with due Respect for its fundamental working Principles of Neutrality, Impartiality and Independence".

    + In particular, the International Humanitarian "Organization does NOT accept Armed Escorts", ICRC pointed out, asking, therefore, from "all parties" to "Guarantee the Security of ICRC staff and Vehicles", given also their above mentioned "Obligation to allow and facilitate" "Humanitarian Relief to Civilians in Need", "which is Impartial... and... without Any adverse Distinction", but "subject to the right of control". -----------------------------

    - Earlier ICRC had already "acknowledged receipt of the offer" from Russia "about organizing Aid Convoys to the Affected Areas in Ukraine", observing that, "in the current situation, any Humanitarian Initiative is Welcome", in order "to alleviate the Suffering of Civilians", as the International Humanitarian Organisation's Head of Operations in Ukraine, Michel Masson, declared on August 8, in an official ICRC Press Statement which noted the fact that "Armed Clashes in the Donetsk and Luhansk Regions of Eastern Ukraine have Forced Thousands of Families to Flee their homes", so that, "Hundreds of Thousands are now Displaced both in the country and in Russia. The living conditions of the resident population are Worsening also, inciting the ICRC to "Step up Activities for the affected population in Deteriorating Humanitarian and Security environments", where the "Priority is to assist (both) the Displaced and (the) Resident People in Donbass, and to provide Medical Assistance to the Wounded, in all affected areas", since "the current situation calls for a Bigger Effort to Help the Civilian Population", with "a Greater and More Effective Response ... in the Coming Days".

    >>>  Already as early as since the End of July 2014, ICRC had officially "called, on all sides, to Respect International Humanitarian Law", under which, "Attacks may be Directed Only against Military objectives, and Not against Civilians, Nor against Civilian objects such as Homes, Schools, Medical facilities and Vehicles, community Shelters or places of Worship" (f.ex. Churches, etc), as it was stressed by a Press Release issued at nearby Geneva on July 23, obviously pointing at Kiev's still on-going and intensifying Military Attacks against the Dissident Regions of Donetsk/Luhansk, for many Months now (mainly from April to August 2014), which have notoriously Killed and Wounded, indeed, many Civilians, (even Women, Elders and Children), Destroyed many Family Homes, key Civilian Buildings, even Hospitals and/or Water/Electricity/Phone Networks, Factories, etc, including also Christian Churches.

              + "International Humanitarian Law also stipulates Respect and Protection for the Civilian Population and those Not (or No Longer) participating in Hostilities, such as the Sick, the Wounded and those who have been Detained, who must be Treated with Dignity at all times", ICRC added, particularly after UNO's High Commissioner for Human Rights recently Denounced, in one of its latest Reports on Ukraine,  the fact that several Hospitals had been Damaged or even Destroyed by Kiev's Military Attacks, often even Killing and/or Wounding Medical Doctors, Wounded Patients, (f.ex. at Slaviansk, etc), even simple Civilian passers by/neighbours (f.ex. at Luhansk, etc), while, in addition, Dissidents have complained for alleged Obstacles by Kiev's Border Guards to the provision of Medical Aid, Drugs, etc, to Wounded People.

                 - In particular, "Fighting in Eastern Ukraine continues to take its toll on Civilians", while, on the contrary, "ICRC has already shared its Concerns bilaterally with the parties and Reminded them that they must at all times Distinguish between Civilians on the one hand, and persons directly Participating in the Fighting on the other. Therefore, "we Urge all sides to Comply with International Humanitarian Law, otherwise known as the Law of Armed Conflict", whose "Rules and Principles apply to All Parties to the non-international Armed Conflict in Ukraine, and impose Restrictions on the Means and Methods of Warfare that they may use", as ICRC Director of Operations, Dominik Stillhart, has reportedly stressed at his arrival in Ukraine since the End of July, (while Dissidents have notoriously complained for alleged abuses, by Kiev's Military, even against Civilian areas, of Massive Shellings, Army Airplane Bombings, GRAD Missile Launchers, and even of Incendiary or Napalm Bombs, etc, as well as for Destroying Water, Electricity, Food, and/or Medical Care infrastructures, blocking  Financial, Social and/or Phone networks, etc., so that the situation in the Dissident Regions has come dangerously near to a "Humanitarian (and/or Ecological) Catastrophe").

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    => In addition, Today (12 AUgust) at Noon, EU Commissioner for Humanitarian Aid and Civil Protection from Major Catastrophes, Kristalina Georgieva, denounced the fact that, even "here in Europe", there is a "Deteriorating Situation in Eastern Ukraine", as she stressed from the outset in a Press Conference in Brussels, partly transmitted by EbsTV, and completed by a Press Release which points also at the "Damages to the Infrastructure, Electricity and Water systems, and increasingly Limited Supplies" (in Food and/or Medicine, etc).

    +  Therefore, "we (EU) are finalizing an Emergency Decision of 2,5 Million € in Humanitarian Aid", which, well beyond an EU "support (to) Ukranian Authorities to upgrade their Humanitarian Assistance Capacity", is "also" destinated to be used, specifically  "for the affected Populations in Eastern Ukraine", she anounced now.

    => - For that purpose, ""I call on all sides of this Conflict to Facilitate the work of Humanitarian Organisations and Allow for the Provision of assistance to the Civilian population in Need, Irrespective of Who, and Where they are," the competent EU Commissioner pointed out.

     - "We are moving to help some of the Most Vulnerable Victims of this Conflict", i.e. particularly "Civilians, many of them Women and Children, (who) have been Forced to Flee their Homes", as well as those who  "are also now Caught in CrossFires without possibility to escape", etc., according to Kristalina Georgieva, (an experienced former World Bank Senior Officer), as cited in an EU Press Release which makes it clear that "the (EU) Commission's Humanitarian Funding" is due to "address the Basic Needs of the Population in the Areas Directly Affected by the Conflict", as welll as "the internally Displaced (f.ex. towards Odessa, etc) and Refugees (mainly at neighbouring Russia), who had Fled the Conflict areas", including "Returnees ..going Back home to areas recovered by the Ukranian Military", i.e., in Total, "some 3,9 Million People" for the overall Donetsk/Luhansk Regions.
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    + Kristalina Georgieva adds Today in her website a fresh publication on "International Humanitarian Law", which "spells out the Responsibilities of States and on-state Parties during Armed Conflict", particularly by defining "Basic issues such as the Right to Receive Humanitarian Assistance, Protection of Civilians", etc., while even "Professional Humanitarian Workers are in Danger IF they are Associated, in the minds of warring factions, with the Military", as it warns, asking, on the contrary, to "respect the Distinct and Separate roles of the Humanitarian Agencies and Workers", (almost echoing ICRC's earlier call against any Military Escort.

    - "IHL is largely codified and Binding on all states, through International Treaties (mainly of the 1949 four Geneva Conventions and their two 1977 additional protocols), and many of its provisions are now accepted as International Customary Law", while "all (28) EU Member States have Ratified the 4 Geneva Conventions" together with "their additional Protocols", and a Total of "195 States, including all UN Member States, have ratified the 4th Geneva Convention on protection of Civilians (1949), which equals Universal Acceptance". In addition, "EU contributes to the global respect for and Compliance with IHL through advocacy and Political Measures","as well as with humanitarian Funding", EU Commission reminded Today.

    - In particular, "IHL seek(s) to limit the effects of armed conflict on Civilians", by "Protecting persons who are Not (or No longer) Participating in Hostilities, and Restricts the Means and Methods of Warfare", being also "applicable to humanitarian Assistance and Protection of civilians".
    
    >>> It "sets out the humanitarian Obligations of States" f.ex. "in relation to Evacuation of, or Access to beSieged or Encircled Areas, ...and ...to Allow Free Passage of Medical supplies, as well as of certain Goods", while also "stipulating that the Wounded and Sick shall be ... Cared for, and (that) an International Humanitarian Body may offer its services to the Parties to the Conflict". "In addition ...Customary international law, .. includes rules on the Rapid and Unimpeded Passage of humanitarian Relief, and the freedom of Movement (as well as "Protection") of Humanitarian relief Personnel".

    In this regard, "States should Avoid integrating Humanitarian activities into their ...Military campaigns, and "Authorities must Stop Blocking humanitarian aid", but "provide Access to Victims, when the Needs are real and lives are in Danger". Because, "If neutral and independent agencies (as f.ex. ICRC) are Denied Access to victims, and Intimidation is widespread, Civilians are Doubly at Risk of suffering", the competent EU Commissioner's services Topically Warned Today.

    + Moreover, in addition to "IHL", it's also the "Distinct" Rules of "International Human Rights Law" (IHRL), which "may be Both Applicable, in the Same Situation", "to Everyone within the Jurisdiction of the State concerned", EU Commission's paper reminded Today, (apparently pointing Ukraine's attention to the Strasbourg-based ECHR).
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    => All this directly refers to EU Parliament's quasi-Unanimously voted "Call for Strict Compliance with International Humanitarian Law", by a last-minute Amendment adopted on Thursday Noon, July 17, at the conclusion of the 1st full Plenary Session of 606 (against only 9, and 11 abstentions) New MEPs, who emerged with a fresh Popular Mandate from the latest, May 2014 EU Elections, (See relevant "EuroFora"s NewsReport at : http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/news/euparliamentonukraineprotectciviliansceasefiredialoguepoliticalsoolution.html ).

    + In that same Amendment EU Parliament stressed that almost all its MEPs, from the entire political spectrum : from the Right up to the Left,  are "Deeply Concerned about the Safety of ordinary People, who remain Trapped at the Donetsk and Luhansk areas", (which still remain at Dissidence vis a vis Kiev's current Authorities since the February 21 controversial and Deadly Violence, triggered by unidentified yet Snipers, who curiously killed both Policemen and Demonstrators at Maidan Square, provoking Brutal Clashes which toppled the written compromise Agreement that all former Opposition Leaders had brokered together with former Ukranian President Yanukovich, with the participation and under the auspices of 3 EU Foreign Ministers from the core European Countries of Germany, France and Poland).

    - Moreover, EU Parliament's above-mentioned, quasi-Unanimous Amendment (No 9) to its latest Resolution on Ukraine, "Deplores the Loss of Lives and the Fact that (even) Children have been registered among the Victims", "expresses its Condoleances to their Family-members", and strongly "Condemns any Targetting of the Civilian Population".

    >>> To make it even more Clear, at another last-minute Amendment, also added to that same EU Parliament's Resolution, MEPs openly and explicitly "Urge the Ukranian Security Forces to fully Respect Internationali Humanitarian Law (IHL) and International Human Rights' Law (IHRL) when conducting So-called anti-terrorist operations" against the Dissident Regions, (Am. No 1).

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    + However, among many other similar sources, also nearby-headquartered German Newspaper "Frankfurter Rundschau" reported that "Donetsk" city, (Capital of one among the 1 Dissident Regions), is still submitted, these Days, to "Massive Shelling by (Kiev's) Government Military" : "Fire from (GRAD) Grenade Launchers has increased throughout the Night until the Morning", while "Numerous (Civilian) Buildings, and the main Train Station of the city were Damaged".  Even "a Hospital" was reportedly  hit by "Bullets", "injuring (at least) a Woman", FR denounced already since last Sunday (August 10)...

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("Draft-News". A more accurate, full Final Version, might be published asap)

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