Patricia Rey ICRC
@patriciarey.bsky.social
46 followers 14 following 13 posts
Head of Communications International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) Caring and posting about wars with limits and humanity. Neutrality saves lives. Nothing without women. www.icrc.org
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patriciarey.bsky.social
The ongoing hostilities in the Middle East will only bring more suffering and destruction.

The time to de-escalate is now, and political will is urgent and needed.

We are calling for respect of the rules of war and the protection of civilians. @icrc.org

www.icrc.org/en/news-rele...
Middle East: ICRC calls for de-escalation and protection of civilians amid rising tensions
www.icrc.org
patriciarey.bsky.social
The humanitarian situation in #Gaza is beyond catastrophic.

The scale of destruction we see right now will not bring us closer to peace or stability. It will only deepen the suffering.

We @ICRC are calling for urgent protection of civilians.

www.icrc.org/en/news-rele...
Israel and the Occupied Territories: ICRC urges respect and protection of civilians, unhindered flow of humanitarian assistance as intolerable suffering mounts in Gaza
www.icrc.org
Reposted by Patricia Rey ICRC
icrc.org
What is a Red Cross Message?

✉️ It’s a piece of paper delivered by our staff and volunteers.
✉️ It’s a last resort for people to contact their families.
✉️ It’s a lifeline for people in prison or separated by conflict.

- It’s hope.
collage of red cross messages
Reposted by Patricia Rey ICRC
icrc.org
The use of cyber operations as means or methods of warfare in armed conflicts poses a real risk of harm to civilians. It is essential to understand how international humanitarian law (IHL) protects civilians, civilian infrastructure, and civilian data against cyber harm.
The digitalization of warfare is introducing new risks of harm to civilians.

Information and communication technology (ICT) operations pose significant risks to civilians, as they can be directed against critical infrastructure, civilian data, medical services, and humanitarian efforts.

Protection of civilians does not stop at the frontline: it must be online as well.
patriciarey.bsky.social
Our @ICRC premises in #Gaza have been struck again. This is the second time in three weeks.

We condemn in the strongest terms any action that inhibits our ability to do our work and risks the lives of humanitarian workers.

Our statement: www.icrc.org/en/news-rele...
ICRC outraged as premises in Gaza struck and damaged by explosive
www.icrc.org
patriciarey.bsky.social
Gaza has become hell on earth. People don't have access to water, electricity, food, in many parts.

For six weeks, nothing has come in, so we will, in a couple of weeks' time, run out of supplies to keep the hospital going.

@icrc.org President M. Spoljaric👇🏻

www.reuters.com/world/middle...
Gaza 'hell on earth' as hospital supplies running out, warns head of Red Cross
The president of the Red Cross described the humanitarian situation in Gaza on Friday as "hell on earth" and warned that its field hospital will run out of supplies within two weeks.
www.reuters.com
patriciarey.bsky.social
The #MyanmarEarthquake has left over 100 health facilities severely damaged, and poor access to electricity and drinking water.

We are calling on all parties to put aside their differences and enable wider humanitarian access to communities in all affected areas.

www.icrc.org/en/news-rele...
Myanmar: ICRC calls for courageous decisions to bring respite to suffering communities
The earthquake in Myanmar and the massive needs it generated must push the parties to agree on a path forward to bring critical respite to communities weakened by long years of conflict and violence.
www.icrc.org
patriciarey.bsky.social
The earthquake in #Myanmar has devastated communities already suffering from armed conflict and violence.

We @icrc.org are on the ground with the Myanmar Red Cross, preparing to assist those affected, including reconnecting family members who have been separated.

Our Head of Delegation 👇🏻
Reposted by Patricia Rey ICRC
icrc.org
"This morning’s earthquake has devastated communities across Myanmar, with reports of hundreds injured, displaced and unaccounted for."

Régis Savioz, ICRC’s Regional Director for Asia and the Pacific, shares more 👇🏽
"This morning’s earthquake has devastated communities across Myanmar, with reports of hundreds injured, displaced and unaccounted for. With the Myanmar Red Cross Society and our Red Cross Red Crescent partners, we are preparing to assist those affected. 

Our thoughts are with the families who have lost everything and those still searching for loved ones.”
Reposted by Patricia Rey ICRC
icrc.org
📍 Gaza | Today, our office in Rafah was damaged by an explosive projectile despite being clearly marked and notified to all parties.

We decry the attack against our premises. Civilians and humanitarian workers must be protected.

Read more: www.icrc.org/en/news-rele...
patriciarey.bsky.social
We @ICRC strongly decry the attack against our premises in #Gaza.

Fortunately, all our colleagues are safe but this impacts our capacity to support the too many civilians facing the horrors of the recent escalation of hostilities.

Our statement: www.icrc.org/en/news-rele...
Israel and the occupied territories: ICRC office in Gaza damaged, civilians and humanitarian workers must be protected
www.icrc.org
patriciarey.bsky.social
“We can feel the panic in the air, the sound of ambulance sirens is a constant, and we can see the pain and devastation in the faces of those we are helping”

@ICRC medical staff describe the scenes in #Gaza as they provide help at the Red Cross hospital 👇🏻

www.icrc.org/en/news-rele...
Israel and the Occupied Territories: Red Cross Field Hospital responding to increased number of casualties in Gaza
www.icrc.org
Reposted by Patricia Rey ICRC
corduladroege.bsky.social
Anti-Personnel Mines: preparing for war while throwing out international humanitarian law is a false promise of security in war and the wrong choice. Inevitably, civilians will pay the price.
#GenevaConventions
blogs.icrc.org/law-and-poli...
Anti-personnel mines: the false promise of security through exceptionalism in war
Efforts to abandon the APMBC challenge fundamental precepts of IHL and undermine essential safeguards for upholding humanity in war.
blogs.icrc.org
patriciarey.bsky.social
With no assistance -food, water, medicines- and with electricity heavily curtailed, life for people in #Gaza becomes unbearable.

We @ICRC are warning of a worsening humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

Our news release:

www.icrc.org/en/news-rele...
Israel and the occupied territories: ICRC warns of worsening humanitarian crisis in Gaza
www.icrc.org
patriciarey.bsky.social
Over the past weeks the ceasefire agreement has allowed for families to be reunited and for the deceased to be brought back to their loved ones.

Some relief amidst so much suffering.

We @ICRC remain committed to facilitate further releases.

Our statement👇🏻

www.icrc.org/en/news-rele...
Israel and the occupied territories: ICRC facilitates return of remains, detainees under ceasefire agreement
www.icrc.org
patriciarey.bsky.social
The way wars are fought today will inform the way they are fought tomorrow.

Where basic humanitarian rules are violated, rebuilding costs skyrocket, and new security threats fester. 

@ICRC President at the 58th session of the Human Rights Council 👇🏻
icrc.org
"We must not become numb to that fact, or we risk sleepwalking into a world where the barriers that once restrained brutality in war are removed.", Mirjana Spoljaric, ICRC President at the 58th session of the Human Rights Council.

Read more: http://ms.spr.ly/63322UfKIM
Today violations that were once considered abhorrent have disturbingly become normalised in conflicts around the world. I stand before you to remind  us of an undeniable truth:  Every patient killed in a hospital bed  Every family buried under the rubble of their home  Every hostage stolen from their loved ones  Every prisoner tortured and deprived of basic dignity,  Every city levelled, and every village destroyed,  These are not unfortunate realities of war: They are a betrayal.  We must not become numb to that fact, or we risk sleepwalking into a world where the barriers that once restrained brutality in war are removed.”
patriciarey.bsky.social
The situation for civilians in northern West Bank is extremely worrying: displaced from their homes, they are struggling to access basic services and information on their missing loved ones.

We reiterate that people should be treated humanely and protected from violence.
icrc.org
Thousands of civilians have been displaced in the northern West Bank due to ongoing security operations.

Many are now unable to return home as buildings have been damaged, with some reduced to rubble, and urgently need humanitarian assistance 👇🏽
We are deeply concerned with the impact of ongoing security operations on the civilian population in Jenin and Tulkarem, Tubas, and other locations in the northern West Bank.   Many people have fled their homes to take shelter, including in crowded mosques and schools. With many homes damaged or destroyed, people are struggling to access basic needs such as clean water, food, medical care, and shelter. Winter weather has made it more difficult to survive. Displaced civilians are also struggling to find information about family members who have gone missing or who might have been detained.   We are working with the Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS) to coordinate aid distribution and medical evacuations. Displaced civilians in the northern West Bank requires urgent assistance.  Finally, we reiterate that people should be  treated humanely and protected from violence.
Reposted by Patricia Rey ICRC
icrc.org
📍 Haiti | Millions of people are exposed to harm amid armed violence. Access to basic services remains difficult, especially for displaced people. Through dialogue with armed actors, we work to reduce harm and facilitate people's access to humanitarian services.
In Haiti, nearly 5.5 million people need urgent aid.* 
The most vulnerable face further hardship as they escape from the consequences of armed violence, and as they look for access to essential services.
patriciarey.bsky.social
It is high time states commit to reversing the downward spiral of death and devastation that we see in conflicts zones across the world today.

The world -and future generations- cannot afford ever-escalating wars.

@ICRC President 👇🏻

www.icrc.org/en/statement...
“The world cannot afford ever-escalating wars:” A call to revive political commitment to international humanitarian law
www.icrc.org
Reposted by Patricia Rey ICRC
icrc.org
Yasmine Praz-Dessimoz, Director of Operations at the ICRC, shares her experience in Syria with
RTS: devastated landscapes, families searching for answers, and an armed conflict that continues affecting civilians 👇🏼

Audio in French: www.rts.ch/audio-podcas...
Syrie, nouvelle donne humanitaire. Interview de Yasmine Praz-Dessimoz
www.rts.ch
Reposted by Patricia Rey ICRC
icrc.org
International humanitarian law #IHL protects education during conflict, ensuring the safety of students, staff, and facilities.

Parties to conflict must respect these protections and ensure education continues, even in the most challenging times. #InternationalDayofEducation
Special protection of children: Under customary law, children affected by armed conflict are entitled to special respect and protection, which can cover access to education.
• Conduct of hostilities:Schools, as civilian objects, must not be attacked unless used for military purposes, and even then, precautions must minimize harm to civilians, with excessive harm prohibited.
• Fundamental guarantees: Parties to non-international armed conflicts must provide children with the care and aid they require. In particular, children must receive education.
• Cultural property: IWhile not always classified as cultural property, educational buildings are protected under IHL unless they become military objectives. Occupation: Occupying powers must support institutions caring for and educating children and protect educational property from destruction or 
seizure, except in cases of absolute military necessity.

Orphaned or separated children: Parties in international conflicts must facilitate education for children under 15 who are orphaned or separated due to war.

Prisoners of war: Detaining powers must support intellectual, educational, and recreational activities for prisoners of war, providing necessary premises and equipment.

Civilian internment: In cases of internment during international armed conflicts, detaining powers must promote intellectual, educational, and recreational activities for internees, allowing voluntary participation.
Reposted by Patricia Rey ICRC
icrc.org
📍 Israel and the Occupied Territories | We have completed the second phase of release operations, reuniting more families.

For more details, please see our operational update: http://ms.spr.ly/63322UOCdm
Today, we facilitated the release and transfer of four hostages out of Gaza and to Israeli authorities.   We also facilitated the release and transfer of 128 detainees from Israeli places of detention to Gaza and the West Bank in the second phase of an ongoing humanitarian operation.   During these releases, our priority is the safe transfer of those involved. This is a responsibility we take extremely seriously.