Volunteers from the Syrian Arab Red Crescent are at the forefront of humanitarian efforts in the country. All sides much respect and protect their work. Ibrahim Malla/IFRC
The Syrian Arab Red Crescent (SARC) has reported that nine volunteers, two staff and three beneficiaries were injured when a distribution point in al-Qusur was hit with a mortar shell yesterday morning.
The organization said it was committed to providing humanitarian assistance in the area to those in need regardless of their political or religious affiliation. It called on all parties to the conflict to respect its mission and its emblems.
In a statement, SARC said: “We call all parties on the ground to facilitate our volunteers’ and staff humanitarian work and we stress that the Red Cross and Red Crescent Emblems must be protected according to the International Humanitarian Law.
“We call on all parties to condemn such attacks as they violate the Geneva conventions, Human Rights treaties and the ethics of all religions.”
Since the conflict broke out in March 2011, 20 volunteers from SARC have died while undertaking humanitarian work across the country. On a recent visit to the country, Tadateru Konoé, President of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), said SARC’s thousands of volunteers embodied the spirit of the Movement’s Fundamental Principles, and deserve respect and protection. “SARC is the only humanitarian organization which can extend its services across the whole country, working in full compliance with the Red Cross Red Crescent Fundamental Principles, particularly humanity, neutrality, unity and independence,” he said.