Statement by H.E. Mr. Ali BAHREINI before 34th International Conference of the Red Cross and Red Crescent

under Item Voices From the Conference

Statement

By

H.E. Mr. Ali BAHREINI

Ambassador and Permanent Representative of the Islamic Republic of Iran to the United Nations Office and other International Organizations in Geneva

Before

34th International Conference of the Red Cross and Red Crescent

Item: Voices from the Conference

Geneva, 28 – 31 October 2024

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بسم الله الرحمن الرحیم

Distinguished Chair,

Esteemed delegates,

After 5 years, we reconvene this conference with the candle of hope dimming under relentless storms of crises.

As occupations, armed conflicts, natural disasters, and forced mass displacement escalate humanitarian needs, strengthening our shared humanity is no longer optional—it is urgently necessary.

Chairperson,

With each mounting hardship, we must ask: When will IHL fulfill its promise of protection?

The IHL—once designed as a safeguard for humanity in times of conflict—has itself become a victim of the very crises it was created to alleviate. As conflict rages on in Gaza, Lebanon, and other affected areas, IHL protections are increasingly ignored, exposing civilians to brutality and deprivation. This erosion of IHL not only jeopardizes lives but also weakens the global framework meant to uphold human dignity in times of crisis.

Chairperson,

The catastrophic figures speak themselves. The humanitarian situation in Gaza and Lebanon now is more than alarming. Israeli regime’s genocidal acts of massacring thousands underscore these gross violations of IHL and international norms. Meantime and while the international community’s response to the urgent needs of Palestinians and Lebanese remains inadequate, targeting humanitarian convoys, hospitals, and schools and the indiscriminate bombardment of civilians by weapons supplied by certain countries to Israel, continues unabated. Those who have provided all-out support for this aggressive and brutal phenomenon in flagrant violation of IHL in the region for past 75 years must refrain from complicity if they genuinely believe in the imperative of strengthening humanity.

To address this catastrophic situation, first and foremost ceasefire and providing a safe and secure humanitarian corridor is crucial. We reiterate our call to mobilize resources for those affected by war and ensure the safe delivery of aid by humanitarian organizations. Effective actions then to be followed by halting the flow of weapons to Israeli regime and compelling respect for IHL. Urgent measures are essential to restore the credibility of the UN and uphold humanitarian values.

Chairperson,

While Iran indeed reaffirms the principles of the IHL and Geneva Conventions, we emphasize that unilateral economic sanctions are severely undermining states’ ability to strengthen their local capacities and are obstructing their unrestricted access to critical humanitarian technologies essential for effectively addressing crises and natural disasters. Therefore, it is imperative to lift unilateral and multilateral measures that obstruct the delivery of humanitarian assistance.

Additionally, in light of the pressing humanitarian impacts of climate events, we call upon states to reevaluate the policies and sanctions that impede the development of anticipatory systems for disaster response.

In conclusion, let us, transform this conference into a renewed mandate—a commitment not only to uphold the principles of IHL but to reaffirm and strengthen its place as a guiding force in our collective response to the grave setbacks in humanitarianism that the world is facing today.

I thank you.