Doha: Qatar Red Crescent Society (QRCS) has reiterated the importance of the role played by humanitarian workers who provide assistance in times of distress and suffering to millions of people affected by humanitarian crises, which necessitates providing them with protection while performing their vital mission, and calls for the text and spirit of the provisions of international humanitarian law that reject any form of violation against civilians, relief personnel, and medical facilities in conflict zones.
In a statement marking World Humanitarian Day, QRCS urged world leaders and decision-makers to cherish the protection of civilians and humanitarian workers, through international pressure to respect and enforce international humanitarian law IHL, awareness-raising about humanitarian protections, and promotion of humanitarian diplomacy as a vital tool to alleviate the suffering of civilians during armed conflicts as it contributes to facilitating the delivery of humanitarian aid to the most affected areas.
QRCS also called for ensuring the protection of civilians and humanitarian workers, securing safe corridors for delivering relief, and emphasizing negotiation as a means of resolving conflicts, noting that real progress cannot be achieved in facing the challenges related to this matter without pushing forward efforts for negotiations and mediation to ceasefire and end conflicts permanently, with the need for greater commitment from countries to support such efforts.
The statement noted the State of Qatar’s efforts through its leading humanitarian diplomatic work. It not only provides meaningful and timely humanitarian aid, but also plays an effective role in negotiation and mediation between conflicting parties, as seen in Gaza, Sudan, and many other countries.
On the other hand, in cooperation with Qatar General Electricity and Water Corporation (Kahramaa), QRCS’s Volunteering and Local Development Division participated in the World Humanitarian Day celebration program. Director of the Division Hussein Ama
n Al-Ali delivered a lecture on “Humanitarian Work as an Inherent Culture in Qatari Society.” At the end of the lecture, he announced an institutional volunteering project jointly with Kahramaa.
In the same vein, QRCS held an online workshop for its members titled “Raising Community Awareness on How to Deal with Persons with Disabilities.” The world celebrates World Humanitarian Day on Aug. 19 every year. Held under the theme “Act For Humanity,” this year’s celebration coincides with the 75th anniversary of the four Geneva Conventions 1949 and the 160th anniversary of the First Geneva Convention of 1864, at a time when humanitarian action in conflict zones faces many complex challenges, amid an alarming increase of attacks against humanitarian workers, jeopardizing their lives and disrupting relief aid delivery to victims. Hospitals and medical centers in conflict zones are subject to systematic attacks that destroy healthcare infrastructure and make it impossible to provide health care for wounded and sick
civilians.
In a related context, Secretary-General of QRCS Faisal Mohamed Al Emadi said: “As humanitarian organizations, we face enormous challenges, amid protracted and extremely complex armed conflicts, which result in large numbers of refugees and displaced persons and total destruction of services.” During his participation in a seminar titled “Challenges to Humanitarian Aid Delivery in Areas of Armed Conflict,” co-organized by Al Jazeera Public Liberties and Human Rights Center and Al Jazeera Mubasher in celebration of World Humanitarian Day, Al Emadi said: “These challenges cannot be addressed individually. Coordination and teamwork are required. It is a collective responsibility. We must all work together as governments, organizations, donors, media outlets, and public opinion.” “The future of humanitarian work depends on our ability to adapt to the growing challenges, organize better, and best utilize our resources,” he added. “In this regard, it is critical to support local efforts and empower local
ly-led humanitarian action, to allow rapid and effective crisis response.”
Source: Qatar News Agency