100 countries, 1 humanitarian mission: to promote respect for the laws of war #IHL and help people caught up in armed conflicts and violence.
Geneva
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Weβve received thousands of questions on the Geneva Conventions.
So, weβre going to break down the rules of war you need to know right now.
All states have signed these β and are legally obligated to follow them.
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This is Syria after 8 years of war.
If this is what war has done to its cities, imagine what it does to those who survive.
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Not inevitable.
Not acceptable.
Not an accident.
Sexual violence is a crime, whenever and wherever it takes place.
Hereβs how weβre trying to prevent it and provide care for survivors.
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The rules of war:
No targeting civilians.
No targeting civilians.
No targeting civilians.
No targeting civilians.
No targeting civilians.
No targeting civilians.
No targeting civilians.
No targeting civilians.
No targeting civilians.
No targeting civilians.
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Thousands of buildings have been destroyed. Mass casualties are unlike anything seen in past years. The medical system is on its knees.
Β
π₯ As Gaza loses power, hospitals lose power
π° Water cannot be pumped
βSewage systems will likely flood
Β
People have nowhere else to go.
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20 examples of when it's justifiable to torture an enemy combatant:
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Did we miss any? Didn't think so.
Torture isn't just unacceptable, it's illegal.
#GenevaConventions
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Civilians.
π They cannot be attacked.
π They must be protected.
π They are not a target.
Whatever wording you use β the message is the same. It is illegal.
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Our colleagues in #Mariupol are taking shelter in our office.
This is how one described the situation π
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Prisoners of war and detainees.
The law states they must be protected. This includes from acts of violence, intimidation, and ill-treatment.
They also must be treated with dignity, and not exposed to public curiosity β like circulating images on social media.
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Civilian infrastructure.
This is schools, hospitals, civiliansβ homes, water plants that supply clean water, and electricity lines.
Basically, everything that civilians need to go about their daily lives.
These are also not a target. We cannot stress this enough.
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International humanitarian law is clear
Civilians - Medical professionals - Hospitals - Ambulances - Clinics
All are protected under the law of war.
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The rules of war save lives. They reduce human suffering.
We call on all parties to uphold them β now.
For more π bit.ly/3pF1r9T
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Combatants.
Combatants must distinguish themselves from civilians in all military operations by wearing identifiable insignia and carrying arms openly. This helps protect civilians from harm.
Combatants must respect the rules of war. Period.
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#Gaza The human suffering is shocking. Thousands killed. People have limited access to food & water.
Hospitals are near collapse. Hospital corridors are full of wounded & displaced.
Destroyed infrastructure & homes will take years to rebuild.
β Even wars have limits.
ALT Destroyed block of buildings
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The sick and wounded.
They must be cared for, regardless of the side theyβre on.
Parties to the conflict must also recover and identify those who have died and facilitate their return β in a dignified manner.
We can assist by acting as a neutral intermediary.
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People do not commit rape by accident.
This is just one survivor's story. It's tough, but it's important viewing.
Sexual violence is a crime, whenever and wherever it takes place.
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Weapons.
The use of illegal weapons and the illegal use of weapons is prohibited. No ifs or buts.
The use of heavy explosive weapons in populated areas - so in cities - should be avoided.
Civilians only end up paying the price.
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Aid workers and humanitarian organizations.
We must be allowed to operate safely. Our work is to bring aid and save lives.
Sanctions and other restrictive measures must be designed to allow humanitarian action to happen.
In all situations, lifesaving aid must not be blocked.
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Surgeon Dr. Tom Potokar shares on the situation from European Hospital, Gaza.
Patients whose families have been killed, arriving with horrific injuries - full-body burns, shrapnel wounds, septic infection.
A full list of admissions, and not enough time. "It is just relentless".
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Nothing stops our trucks from delivering aid in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
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Red cross red crescent emblems.
They're protective emblems. In conflict, they must only be used for:
β
Medical staff and facilities, including army medics and vehicles.
β
Red Cross Red Crescent workers, vehicles, facilities and the humanitarian relief they bring.
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If #Yemen was 100 people:
-80 need aid to survive.
-60 have barely anything to eat.
-58 have no access to clean water.
-52 have no access to health care.
-11 are severely malnourished.
But Yemen is not 100 people. Itβs 27 million people.
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People are living in terror in Mariupol, desperate for safety.
Todayβs attempt to start evacuating an estimated 200,000 people has failed.
The failed attempts underscore the absence of a detailed and functioning agreement between parties to the conflict. #Ukraine
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"One of the most painful things is when you walk through the hospital, and the children ask you if everything is going to be ok..."
Amid the deafening sound of explosions in Khan Younis, our colleague @nanoninoto tells us about the situation in the European Gaza Hospital π
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Sometimes we all need a helping hand β€οΈ
Zainab and Nigina are learning how to use their new artificial limbs at our orthopedic center in Kabul. #FridayFeeling
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Dr. Tom Potokar, our chief surgeon in the European Hospital in #Gaza shares the situation of the healthcare workers and of those civilians affected.
"Is seeing so many destroyed lives, so many shattered bodies, burned bodies, particularly in children... this is such a tragedy".
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A landmine took Ahmed's leg.
This is the moment he got back on his feet.
Over 4,000 civilians were killed or injured by explosives in Afghanistan last year. Thatβs over a third more than in 2017 and the most since 2010.
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International humanitarian law is clear: civilians must be protected.
Critical infrastructure must be protected.
Even wars have limits.
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βThere's no electricity, water and gas supply. Meaning no means for heating.
Some people still have food, but Iβm not sure for how long it will last.
Many report having no food for children.β
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In times of war, neutrality is not indifference.
It is a deliberate way of working to be able to help without taking sides, allowing us to reach those who need it most.
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No words.
No photos.
No videos.
No stories.
No articles.
No quotes.
No tweets.
Nothing.
Nothing can begin to describe the seven years of hell the Syrian people have endured. #Syria7
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The horrific attacks in Israel cannot justify the limitless destruction of Gaza.
The evacuation orders, coupled with the complete siege, are not compatible with IHL.
We are committed to providing aid to Gaza and we reiterate our readiness to visit the hostages there. Read moreπ
icrc.org/en/document/israel-β¦
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We are not and cannot be the guarantor of a ceasefire agreement between the parties or of its implementation.
As a neutral and impartial humanitarian intermediary, we've been facilitating dialogue between the parties on the safe passage of civilians.
Civilians need safety.
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Tonight in Gaza, hundreds of thousands have nowhere to sleep.
More than 2 million people lack basic necessities, water and electricity.
Ambulances cannot reach the wounded.
Civilians must be spared from the effects of hostilities.
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Do the Geneva Conventions apply in Westeros?
For the #GameOfThronesFinale the @RedCrossAU analysed every violation of international humanitarian law.
Over 70 #GameOfThrones episodes, over 100 war crimes.
Letβs go.
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Two thirds of people in Yemen have almost nothing to eat.
That's over 20 million people.
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Our aid convoy has made it into #Ukraine.
11 trucks are carrying 200 tons of urgently needed aid.
This includes food, medical supplies, kits to treat those wounded, and other essential items.
More to come.
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The horrific attacks in Israel cannot justify the limitless destruction of Gaza. The evacuation orders, coupled with the complete siege, are not compatible with IHL.
We are committed to providing aid to Gaza and we reiterate our readiness to visit the hostages there.
Read moreπ
icrc.org/en/document/israel-β¦
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βPeople report varying needs in medicine. Especially for diabetes and cancer patients.
But there is no way to find it anymore in the city.
People are getting sick already because of the cold.β
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"We have now approximately 65-66 people in our building.
Plus, we also give a host to half of the people who are located in the same building.
So their small children can sleep in the basement because people are afraid.β
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Democratic Republic of Congo.
Nigeria.
Libya.
Iraq.
Syria.
Afghanistan.
Myanmar.
Somalia.
South Sudan.
Ukraine.
We might have #280characters but that's still not enough to talk about all the places where civilians are caught in conflict.
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"We keep the shelter, the basement, only for children and their mothers.
All other adults and children above twelve they sleep in the office.
Itβs really cold.
We still have some fuel for generators β so we have electricity for 3-4 hours a day.β
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Update: Weβve just delivered lifesaving medical supplies into Mekelle, #Tigray, for the first time since September.
We work on organizing other flights carrying medical assistance in the coming days and weeks.
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4 things the rules of war state about civilians:
1. Civilians cannot be targeted.
2. Civilians cannot be used as human shields.
3. Civilians must have safe passage to flee.
4. Humanitarian organizations must have access to deliver aid to civilians.
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βWe brought all the food that we have in our homes.
We also visited the destroyed and damaged houses of our colleagues to pick up remaining food there.
We will have food for a few days.β
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"In the last week Iβve had to tell a father that his child has non-survivable burn injuries. Weβve had to treat patients, young children, pulled out of the rubble after 48 hours"
Report from ICRC war surgery team, Gaza.
Footage for download #Newsroom
bit.ly/3u8wsIn
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This is not what a school should look like.
Hundreds of buildings have been destroyed by heavy artillery fire and missiles during the escalation of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.
The impact it has on civilians is devastating.
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βWe found a way to collect some water.
We still have some storage of potable water. When we run out of the stock, we will boil water from the stream.
So we have comparatively good compared to others.β
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4 things the rules of war state about civilians:
1. Civilians cannot be targeted.
2. Civilians cannot be used as human shields.
3. Civilians must have safe passage to flee.
4. Humanitarian organizations must have access to deliver aid to civilians.
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Over 2 million civilians are trapped in the Gaza Strip.
The immediate imperative must be to save lives & preserve humanity.
Healthcare, water, and electricity must be immediately restored.
Civilian life must be protected & respected on all sides.
π bit.ly/3SomMnf
ALT "I am shocked by the level of human suffering and urge the parties to the conflict to deescalate now. The tragic loss of so many civilian lives is deplorable. This is a catastrophic failing that the world must not tolerate" Mirjana Spoljaric, ICRC President
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Over 7 months ago, our colleagues Hauwa and Alice were abducted in northern Nigeria. We have been told in 24 hours they will be executed.
We issue an urgent plea for their lives.
To their abductors: Please show mercy. Let them go home to their families.
ow.ly/uIAW30mdVwf
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This is what conflict has done to Syria's buildings.
Imagine what is had done to Syrians.
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Protected under the rules of war:
β
Doctors
β
Nurses
β
Journalists
β
Paramedics
β
Aid workers
β
Sick and wounded
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Prisoners of war
β
Refugees and IDPs
β
Civilians
#GenevaConventions
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"Attack on a humanitarian convoy is an attack on humanity." Our joint statement with @SYRedCrescent and @Federation: ow.ly/5YDN304nFtu
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Two thirds of people in Yemen have almost nothing to eat.
That's over 20 million people.
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Our team is currently participating in an ongoing operation to facilitate the safe passage of civilians out of the Azovstal plant & Mariupol towards Zaporizhzhia.
This complex operation is conducted in coordination with the parties to the conflict & the @UN.
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The Geneva Conventions ensure:
π Torture is illegal.
π The dead deserve dignity.
π Hospitals are not attacked.
π Sick and wounded are cared for.
π Detainees are treated humanely.
π Families know the fate of missing loved ones.
The Geneva Conventions preserve our humanity.
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To all the nurses around the world,
We can't thank you enough. β€οΈ
#InternationalNursesDay βοΈ : Banksy
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We banned the bomb!
A rare piece of good news in 2020: nuclear weapons are about to become illegal, after the 50th State ratified the #NuclearBan.
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The Geneva Conventions preserve our humanity.
They prevent unimaginable suffering.
They save lives.
Today they turn 70. #GC70
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Attacks on:
Museums
Religious sites
Historic monuments
Are attacks on:
Our identity.
Our history.
Our humanity.
Cultural property is protected under law. Even during war.
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Weβve been supporting communities in #Afghanistan for over 30 years.
We wonβt stop now.
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It doesnβt matter what youβre wearing.
It doesnβt matter what your gender is.
It doesnβt matter what side of the conflict youβre on.
It doesnβt matter who your family are.
It doesnβt matter if youβre a soldier or a civilian.
Sexual violence is a crime.
#16Days
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How can art help children process their trauma?
- Often they canβt understand what they have been through.
- Drawing helps them externalise.
- By listening and asking how they felt, we can help them make sense and cope with their experiences.
#WorldMentalHealthDay
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Two thirds of people in Yemen have almost nothing to eat.
That's over 20 million people.
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Itβs a day like any other...
Unbeknownst to millions of people, a nuclear bomb is hurtling towards the earth and in an instant the world changes forever.
β€οΈthis tweet to see if you'd survive.
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When is it justifiable to torture an enemy fighter?
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#GenevaConventions
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No parent should feel the pain of not knowing where their child is.
Families belong together.
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Our convoy passed Rafah crossing into #Gaza.
We are bringing in medical staff, including a war surgery team, alongside 6 trucks with urgent humanitarian aid:
π¦ Medical materials
π₯ War surgery kits for 1000 to 5000 people
π° Water purification for 50,000L of drinking water
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π’ We facilitated the release of 2 more hostages, transporting them out of #Gaza this evening.
Our role as a neutral intermediary makes this work possible & we are ready to facilitate any future release.
We hope that they will soon be back with their loved ones.
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In Gaza there is no time to grieve, only to survive.
The human suffering we have seen unfold is devastating.
We call on the sides to respect their obligations under international humanitarian law and protect civilians from harm.
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On #WorldEmojiDay and every day:
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#NotATarget
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The humanitarian situation in #Gaza: without power, a full blackout is imminent.
βHospitals are going to be turned into graveyards.β
More from our colleague Hisham here.
(πΉRepost for viewing on mobile)
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Esther's home was attacked in Goma.
She was shot in the leg.
But thanks to Dr Alexandru and our team in the Democratic Republic of Congo, she is getting better every day.
We π your dance moves Esther!
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How can you stay safe from COVID-19, when home is not safe?
The escalation of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict could lead to a spike in cases.
- Thousands of homes destroyed.
- Families are forced to move.
- People seeking shelter in crowded basements.
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Our red cross emblem is protected under international humanitarian law.
It cannot and must not be misused in any way other than this π
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Hauwaβs death has broken our hearts.
Hauwa was a friend and daughter. She was a midwife, helping women in their most painful and vulnerable moments, bringing life into the world.
Hauwa was not yet 25. We will never know what her life would go on to hold. ow.ly/BNMQ30mfGoc
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