The European Union has issued a stark warning about the ongoing humanitarian crisis in the Israeli-occupied West Bank and Gaza, noting that the past 10 months have witnessed a marked and severe deterioration in conditions.
In a joint statement, the European Union’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell and Commissioner for Crisis Management and Humanitarian Aid Janez Lenarcic, said 2023 was the deadliest year on record for humanitarian workers, with concerns that 2024 may follow a similarly tragic trajectory.
“In recent years, we have observed a devastating trend in which some states have flagrantly disregarded basic norms of international humanitarian law in the conflicts they face,” the statement said, as reported by Anadolu, Monday (19/8).
The statement, released ahead of World Humanitarian Day on August 19, stressed the critical role of humanitarian aid workers in conflict zones and the increasingly dangerous conditions in which they operate.
EU officials point out that local humanitarian workers, in particular, face the highest risk of being killed, kidnapped or injured while carrying out their duties.
They stressed that these individuals must be protected at all costs, and underlined that this is an obligation under international humanitarian law.
The joint statement also touched on the EU’s efforts to provide legal assistance and financial grants to local aid workers facing threats while carrying out their missions.
Borrell and Lenarcic called on the international community to safeguard the safety of humanitarian workers. (I-2)
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