Edem Wosornu, Director of Operations and Advocacy at the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, presented the figures on Wednesday during an open debate at the UN headquarters…reports Asian Lite News Desk
The United Nations has warned that civilians are continuing to bear the brunt of global conflicts, with one person killed every 14 minutes in war zones last year. Senior UN officials said violations of humanitarian law are intensifying across multiple regions, while aid workers are also facing unprecedented levels of danger.
One civilian was killed every 14 minutes in armed conflicts around the world last year, a senior United Nations humanitarian official told the Security Council during a debate on the protection of civilians in armed conflict.
Edem Wosornu, Director of Operations and Advocacy at the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, presented the figures on Wednesday during an open debate at the UN headquarters.
“We know the real toll is far higher, in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, in Sudan, in Ukraine, in the occupied Palestinian territory, and beyond,” she told the Council.
The remarks came amid growing international concern over the increasing impact of armed conflicts on civilian populations across multiple regions.
In a related statement issued on Wednesday, principals of the Inter Agency Standing Committee warned of worsening and increasingly visible violations of international humanitarian and human rights law during ongoing hostilities worldwide.
The statement said civilians, including children, were being killed, injured and displaced on a massive scale in conflict affected regions.
“Across conflicts, civilians, including children, are killed, injured, and displaced at an alarming scale,” the statement said.
The UN officials also warned about the widespread use of sexual violence as a tactic of war, particularly against women and girls, describing its impact as devastating and long lasting.
According to the statement, homes, schools, hospitals, places of worship and other civilian infrastructure continue to be damaged or destroyed during military operations. Water systems, transport networks, markets and food production facilities were also among the critical infrastructure affected.
The humanitarian leaders further warned that conflict driven hunger and famine were spreading in several regions, often linked to siege tactics and the deliberate starvation of civilian populations.
The statement also highlighted the mounting dangers faced by humanitarian workers operating in conflict zones. More than 1,000 aid personnel have been killed during the past three years, marking one of the deadliest periods for humanitarian operations in recent history.
“Wars have rules that apply to all parties to conflict,” the statement said.
“The problem is not a lack of law. The problem is the failure to uphold them consistently, the erosion of accountability and inaction, even in the face of atrocities.”
The UN has repeatedly called on all parties involved in armed conflicts to comply with international humanitarian law and ensure the protection of civilians and aid workers during hostilities.
