A volunteer of Qatar Red Crescent Society (QRCS) was killed in Syria during an air strike launched on field relief teams carrying out humanitarian missions in Idlib’s Al Janudeiah village.
Mus’ab Ahmad A’rabi, 32, was working as a cameraman when the incident occurred.
“Hence, with the approach of the International Red Cross Red Crescent Day, we assert the need for the respect of International Humanitarian Law (IHL) rules, which protect a wide range of people and objects during armed conflicts. 
“And while categories protected under IHL are specifically referred to as the sick, wounded, shipwrecked, prisoners of war, and civilians not directly involved in hostilities, they also include other categories such as medical personnel and humanitarian aid workers,” QRCS said in a statement.
The statement added, “In this context, Article III common to the Four Geneva Conventions of 1949, binding to all parties of the non-international armed conflict in Syria, stipulates that the sick and wounded shall be collected and cared for. Customary IHL also provides special protection to hospitals, medical units and healthcare workers.”  
QRCS chairman Dr Mohamed bin Ghanem al-Ali al-Ma’adeed said, “With deep sorrow, we received the news of the demise of our son Mus’ab A’rabi, who was part of the QRCS team working inside Syria. 
“I cannot find the words to express how I feel right now. All that crosses my mind now is the question when will targeting humanitarian aid workers stop and when will IHL rules in war be respected, wherever that war may be?” 
QRCS secretary general Ali bin Hassan al-Hammadi said the Society “regrets and deplores the painful incident,” which resulted in the death of A’rabi and “severely injuring another staff member.” 
A’rabi’s death was the third incident encountered by QRCS. In 2014, surgeon Dr Saleh el-Hassan, 35, was killed during a humanitarian mission in Tabaqa Hospital in Syria. Dr Leith Abu Waleed, 23, died in 2013. 
Al-Hammadi said the International Movement of the Red Cross and Red Crescent always asserts and calls for the respect of humanitarian aid workers, referring to the ICRC’s issuance of several clear statements urging all parties to the conflict in Syria “to adhere to their obligations under IHL and to respect the RCRC humanitarian aid teams, by ensuring their safe and unrestricted access to those affected by the conflict.”


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