Lebanon: Humanitarians are not a target

On this World Humanitarian Day, the Première Urgence Internationale staff here in Lebanon is standing in solidarity with all civilian populations affected by conflict. This includes all men, women and children, as well as our colleagues from UN agencies, the Red Cross and Red Crescent, and NGO workers who have been injured or lost their lives. 

This year Première Urgence Internationale and the wider humanitarian community is also calling out to all UN Member States and non-state actors to immediately cease all attacks on civilians, including humanitarians, and all violations of International Humanitarian Law. After celebrating the 75th anniversary of the Geneva Conventions, we cannot accept going back against the rules of war that they established. 

We are appalled by the normalization of attacks against civilian populations and disregard for human life. This trend has been particularly obvious to us. First from the horrifying scale of civilian deaths and destruction in Gaza. Second from the growing numbers of our colleagues who have been killed alongside the communities they serve. 2023 has been the deadliest year on record for humanitarian workers worldwide and 2024 is expected to be even worse. 

Here in Lebanon since 8 October 2023, at least 130 civilians have been killed, including 21 paramedics, and more than 110 000 people have been displaced since October. At the Southern border health centers have been damaged or have had to close as a result of the bombing, depriving thousands of access to life-saving care. We are shocked by these attacks and repeat our call for an immediate ceasefire.  

Première Urgence Internationale team in Lebanon on World Humanitarian Day 2024

While Première Urgence Internationale is doing everything it can to meet the needs of people affected by conflict, we are worried about the worsening threats we face as part of our work. The targeting of humanitarians and humanitarian infrastructure is particularly egregious. Humanitarians who work to serve communities affected by war and are, as such, protected under international humanitarian law, are #NotATarget. All armed actors need to respect international humanitarian law, immediately stop all attacks against civilians including humanitarians, and violators need to be held accountable. 

Today, we hope that those in power can realise that they are failing humanitarian workers and the communities they serve and #ActforHumanity.