GENEVA - The International Committee of
the Red Cross (ICRC) appealed to foreign powers on Friday to
press combatants in Syria to halt attacks on civilians and aid
workers, saying all sides were violating the Geneva Conventions.
"Many atrocities against civilians have been reported or
witnessed over the past two years and we have also seen
indiscriminate attacks against civilians and the targeting of
health-care personnel and aid workers," said Robert Mardini,
head of ICRC operations for the Near and Middle East.
States should "play a positive role by exerting stronger
influence on those involved to secure greater respect for
international humanitarian law", Mardini said.
"These ongoing violations of international humanitarian law
and of basic humanitarian principles by all sides must stop," he
declared, saying no end to civilian suffering was in sight.
The ICRC's appeal on the second anniversary of the uprising
against Syrian President Bashar Assad was the first time the
independent agency had asked outside powers to help create
conditions in which aid could reach needy civilians promptly.