Humanitarian workers in conflict areas always face risks, but never as many as now. Last year, 383 were killed, a record figure, and so far from 2025, fatal victims amount to 265. “These numbers do not include injured or kidnapped,” warns the general director of the International Committee of the Red Cross, the Swiss Pierre Krähenbühl (Geneva, 59 years). On August 19, on the occasion of the World Day of Humanitarian Assistance, the ICRC demanded that the international laws that force to respect and protect the personnel who attend the civilian population victim of armed conflicts in which food, drinking water and medical care are complied with. Krähenbühl talks to El País through a video call.
Ask. What has changed so that attacks on humanitarian workers are increasingly frequent?
Answer. I think there is a more permissive environment and a more permissive interpretation of humanitarian laws. The number of murders is increasingly high and there is a feeling that the world is getting used to these losses, something that we are not willing to accept because behind the numbers there are brave and committed colleagues. It is important to underline that the death of a humanitarian worker somewhere means assistance that does not reach the affected civilian population.
P. What consequences does it have for the civilian population?
R. If the Red Cross is removed because it considers that safety conditions are insufficient means that we can no longer access some areas where people have fled, or repair broken water systems and in that case, the risk that diseases are spread in the displaced fields increases. Or if a place is bombarded and they arrive wounded we can no longer provide assistance and more lives will be lost.
P. What is the response of the authorities to this increase in attacks in places such as the Gaza or Ukraine Strip?
R. It is part of our work to speak with all the parties about the need to protect humanitarian workers and we also take numerous measures to avoid risks, such as notifying where we will be operating, when and where we are going to move, always be identified … but I believe that the conditions we currently see in the Gaza Strip are among the worst we have seen in a long time. The ICRC established a campaign hospital in May where it has served thousands of injured, including children and women, and the work has been done in many cases while there were bullets that flew over the land and caused new injured even right there.
P. Are you about intentional attacks?
R. To say if they are intentional or not, it does not correspond to us, but if we look at the numbers of civilians killed, injured and displaced, in the obstacles for the population to access food, water and adequate assistance, it is catastrophic. What is happening in Gaza is beyond any moral and legal standard. I am extremely concerned about the state of the world and political courage if they can tolerate what is happening.
P. In previous conflicts it was common to hear that it was not known what was happening, but in Gaza we see the destruction and famine daily in the media. What does the weak international reaction attribute?
R. It is true, no one can say that he does not know what is happening in the Gaza Strip or can say that he did not know in the future. We do not want them to ask us for any new report on what is happening. The conflict is stealing the dignity and security to the civilian population, is undermining the foundations that should be preserved for any dignified way of life. The last statement of the Civil Protection Committee on the classification of Gaza in terms of famine is a very clear and urgent signal of the catastrophic levels of deprivation that civilians face. What more is needed to take over -founded political measures to achieve the cessation of the conflict and promote a process that allows the restoration of the food supply as well as the access to humanitarian aid in this critical moment? We ask for it firmly.
P. What role does Latin America play?
R. Latin America has historically had a very strong voice in relation to international humanitarian law, in defending the importance of these norms.
P. And now? Are you getting worse in this region?
R. The norms of international humanitarian law apply when a certain threshold of violence is reached. In Latin America, there is a higher prevalence of organized crime situations or groups and gangs that participate in other forms of violence. In every armed conflict there are violations of laws and attacks on civilians, but also that each society creates rules to respect basic things, such as the abuse of injured prisoners or the abuse of women and children. The ICRC meets with all parties to inform, train and discuss violations to achieve change. This is what we must insist on, we cannot tolerate a world where anything can be done to anyone.
P. What are the biggest challenges for humanitarian assistance in Latin America?
R. On the one hand, Haiti, where 6 million Haitians need humanitarian assistance and where there is a very serious impact due to the levels of violence exerted by armed groups and that affect, for example, medical facilities. Only 20% of health centers are operational and some are in areas under the direct control of armed groups. There are a million internal displaced people and this, added to the serious prevalence of sexual violence is very worrying. Our teams work especially in the health field to support health services and water supply and, from our neutrality, work in all affected areas. The other situation in which we have been involved for decades is Colombia. He had significantly improved thanks to the peace process, but there is a resumption of clashes.
P. Is it more difficult to be neutral today, given growing polarization?
R. Polarization has two effects. One is that: people want you to choose, the “you are with me or against me” and they tell us that there is no neutral space between their enemy and them. But over time we also see that the parties realize that if there is no neutral actor, some things will not happen. For example, we have participated in the transfer of mortal remains between Russia and Ukraine and the release of hostages in Gaza and Palestinian prisoners held by Israel. Although sometimes we are criticized for affirming our neutrality, we are also sought.
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