Attacks on medical facilities in conflict zones: FDFA calls for strict compliance with international humanitarian law
Bern, 29.10.2015 - The Federal Department of Foreign Affairs FDFA is deeply shocked by the increase in attacks on hospitals and calls on conflicting parties to ensure precautionary measures are taken to protect civilians.
The FDFA is deeply shocked by the attacks on medical facilities in conflict zones and wishes to express its sympathy for the victims and their relatives, as well as the organisation Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), which is particularly affected. Several facilities located in conflict zones have been destroyed in recent weeks. Such attacks severely hinder the provision of medical care urgently needed by victims of conflict.
For this reason, the FDFA calls for strict compliance with international humanitarian law. It appeals in particular to the parties to the conflicts to take the necessary precautions to ensure protection for civilians and to refrain from targeting medical facilities and personnel.
Switzerland supports all independent, thorough and competent investigations that shed light on how such incidents were able to take place and what preventive measures can be taken to improve the protection of medical facilities in conflict zones.
Address for enquiries
FDFA Communication
Federal Palace West Wing
CH-3003 Bern, Switzerland
Tel. Press service: +41 58 460 55 55
E-mail: kommunikation@eda.admin.ch
Twitter: @SwissMFA
Publisher
Federal Department of Foreign Affairs
https://www.eda.admin.ch/eda/en/home.html
