The State of Qatar stressed commitment to support any initiative by the UN Security Council aimed at protecting civilians during armed conflict in order to achieve international peace and security in the region and the world.
Addressing the Security Council Open Debate on the Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict, Qatar’s permanent representative to the United Nations, HE ambassador Sheikha Alia Ahmed bin Saif al-Thani, said the Resolution 2286 (2016) adopted by the Security Council was particularly important to cope with wars and conflicts in various regions of the world, including conflicts in our region, which are increasingly disregarding the sanctity of the medical sector, medical personnel and facilities as well as the wounded and the sick.
She urged the implementation of the UNSC Resolution 2286 (2016) in order to end the targeting of medical personal facilities and facilities, calling it a “flagrant violation of international humanitarian law.” 
In this context, she warned from the devastating impact of such acts, which exacerbate the suffering of civilians in armed conflict.
She referred to the ongoing destruction of hospitals and health facilities in Syria by the Syrian regime forces and other acts of violence, attacks and threats against medical personnel and humanitarian workers engaged in medical duties along with their means of transport and equipment, resulting in the destruction of hospitals and other medical facilities and the killing of a large number of doctors, medical personnel, the sick and wounded.
In addition to the fact that such acts constitute a flagrant violation of international humanitarian law, disruptions to health facilities is a serious threat to thousands of civilians, she said, urging the international community to take preventive measures and decisive action to put an end to these flagrant violations of international humanitarian law, hold perpetrators accountable for crimes against civilians in Syria and bring perpetrators, who should not go unpunished, to criminal justice.
Qatar along with partners in the International Group to Combat Impunity has worked to adopt the UN General Assembly Resolution 248 establishing an international, impartial and independent mechanism to assist in the investigation and prosecution of those responsible for the most serious crimes under international law committed in the Syrian Arab Republic, paving the way for the implementation of the UN Security Council Resolution No 2286 (2016).
As part of Qatar’s commitment to provide humanitarian assistance, an important part of the aid is aimed at alleviating the suffering of civilians affected by armed conflict by supporting medical, health and ambulance services, she said.
Qatar provides about $1.6bn to alleviate the suffering of the Syrian people inside and outside Syria through international humanitarian organisations and donor conferences.
Qatari relief assistance in conflict-affected areas also includes health and medical sector along with humanitarian work by Qatari charitable and humanitarian institutions such as the Qatari Red Crescent (QRCS), she concluded.



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