Several NGOs have asked François Hollande for a humanitarian ultimatum to evacuate civilians from Aleppo. And point to the danger of the death of international humanitarian law.
Aleppo. Thousands of civilians evacuated in terror and ignorance of their fate. City besieged, starved, ruined … While the evacuation of the population of rebel areas is taking place in the greatest uncertainty, representatives of three medical NGOs (Médecins du Monde, Médecins Sans Frontières and the Union of Relief and Care Organizations medical staff France) were received by François Hollande, to whom they informed him of the need to establish a “humanitarian ultimatum”.
“The battle for Aleppo is drawing to a close and suffers a real humanitarian tragedy: the thousands of civilians stranded in Aleppo are traumatized and lack everything, water, food and medicine as the bombardments continue to intensify since November 15 ”, we can read in a press release from MdM.
15 caregivers, more hospitals
The NGO wonders: under what conditions will the displaced people be received? Who will take care of them? “There are only between 15 and 20 caregivers left and no hospital is functional. In Aleppo, nearly 700 wounded cannot be evacuated ”, explains Dr. Françoise Sivignon, president of MDM, quoted in the press release.
“We are revolted caregivers. It is in this capacity that we came to see the President of the Republic ”. During the interview at the Elysee Palace, medical NGOs proposed a “humanitarian ultimatum” to be put in place within the next 15 days due to the urgency to intervene.
“Death of humanitarian law”
The latter has several components: evacuation of civilians from dangerous areas by parties not involved in the conflict and respect for international humanitarian law; food and medicine supplies pending the evacuation of civilians; specific protection of medical personnel and caregivers, targets of the Syrian conflict since its inception; and finally, protection of hospitals and healthcare structures still functional, in particular those located along the Turkish border.
“It is urgent for the international community to mobilize and protect the populations, the first victims of this conflict. We reject the death of international humanitarian law, ”concludes Françoise Sivignon.
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