The United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS)
The escalation in the Middle East is having devastating impact on civilians and civilian infrastructure
Statement attributable to Jorge Moreira da Silva, UN Under-Secretary-General and UNOPS Executive Director.
The escalation in the Middle East is having a devastating toll on civilians and civilian infrastructure.
Civilians are as ever the first and most to suffer: children, older people and ordinary men and women. They pay the heaviest price in conflicts not of their making.
All wars have laws and they must be respected by all parties at all times. Attacks on civilian infrastructure must stop. Over the past 72 hours we received reports that several schools, hospitals and other basic services have been severely damaged or destroyed. Civilians and civilian infrastructure must be protected at all times including during conflict in accordance with international law.
Violence will only breed more violence. I echo the UN Secretary-General’s urgent call for immediate cessation of hostilities for the sake of civilians wherever they are.
I call on all parties to protect civilians and civilian infrastructure and uphold their obligations under international humanitarian law. The only way out of this mayhem is through diplomatic and peaceful negotiations.
People across the Middle East need and deserve a long-awaited peace. It’s time for courage and a peaceful end for the decades-long conflicts.
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