SRSG Kubiš Calls on Parties to Protect Civilians in Operations to Liberate Fallujah, Praises Assuring Statements
25 May 2016
Baghdad, Iraq, 25 May 2016 - As operations are underway to liberate Fallujah, Special Representative of the Secretary-General (SRSG) for Iraq, Mr. Ján Kubiš, strongly urges all parties to undertake every effort to protect the lives of civilians and preserve the city’s infrastructure in accordance with the relevant principles of international human rights and humanitarian law.
He calls on all parties to the conflict to adhere strictly to international humanitarian law, including the principles of distinction, proportionality and precaution in the conduct of hostilities, and to ensure that civilians are permitted to leave areas where fighting may be taking place in dignity and safety.
The SRSG expresses his appreciation for recent directives of the Commander-in-Chief Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi, the Ministry of Defence and the Popular Mobilization Commission, and in particular for the statement of His Eminence Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani as well as the statement of the Fikh Council of Iraqi Scholars, which outline the parameters of the conduct of military operations and which emphasise the need to undertake all actions necessary to ensure the protection of the civilian inhabitants from the effects of armed conflict and violence.
“I welcome the issuance of these key directives and messages as the operations commence to liberate Fallujah from its occupation by the terrorist Daesh”, Mr. Kubiš said. “The people of Fallujah have suffered tremendously and the liberation should not add more suffering and destruction of property. Innocent civilians should not pay the price for the crimes of Daesh”.
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