Iran (IMNA) _ According to IRNA, quoting the Red Crescent Society, Pirhossein Kolivand, in explaining the committed crimes in non-residential areas, said: “What is observed in the reports goes beyond physical destruction, indicating direct harm to human dignity, the right to life, and the security of civilians.”
Violation of the Principle of Distinction
He added: “One of the most fundamental principles of humanitarian law is the distinction between military and civilian targets. Damage to over 80,000 civilian units, 60,000 residential units, and hundreds of schools and medical centers shows that this principle has been seriously violated. Civilians and the infrastructure related to their daily lives must not be targeted under any circumstances.”
Violation of the Principle of Proportionality
Kolivand recalled: “Even in conditions of conflict, attacks should not cause damage beyond military objectives. When thousands are injured and children, women, and vulnerable groups are among the victims, this indicates a failure to observe proportionality between the military action and its human consequences.”
Violation of Special Protection for Medical and Educational Facilities
The head of the Red Crescent Society emphasized: “According to international conventions, hospitals, medical centers, and relief workers must be completely protected. Schools, as safe educational environments, must also be protected. Damage to 266 medical centers, 498 schools, and 17 Red Crescent centers indicates a clear violation of these protections; an action that, from a legal perspective, can be considered a serious breach of humanitarian law.”
Violation of the Right to Life and Human Dignity
Kolivand continued: “The statistics of civilian casualties, including hundreds of martyrs, among them children under 5 years old and 231 martyred women, clearly demonstrate that the fundamental right to life, emphasized in all human rights documents, has been severely violated. Children and women, as vulnerable groups, must receive the highest level of protection.”
Violation of the Principle of Protection for Relief and Medical Personnel
He added: “Relief workers, according to international law, must be neutral and immune from attack, as their role is purely humanitarian. However, relief workers have been injured and martyred, and ambulances and relief equipment have been damaged. This signifies a violation of the principle of neutrality and immunity of relief workers.”
Long-Term Humanitarian and Social Consequences
Kolivand noted: “The violation of humanitarian law is not limited to immediate casualties; it also includes widespread homelessness, psychological trauma to children, disruption of education and health, and the collapse of social security, the effects of which may last for years.”
He explained: “What has happened is not just a crisis, but a test for the global conscience. The international community has a responsibility to protect civilians, prevent the recurrence of such atrocities, and translate human principles from slogans into action.”
He further added: "Amidst this, the relief workers of the Red Crescent Society, despite serious dangers, have responded with a spirit of self-sacrifice and a deep commitment to humanitarian principles. In the shortest possible time, they have been present on the scene and, through rapid, effective, and professional actions, have saved the lives of thousands. These efforts are the true embodiment of the principles of neutrality, humanity, and selfless service – principles that the world needs more than ever today.
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