S/PV.10131 Security Council

In accordance with rule 37 of the Council’s provisional rules of procedure, I invite the representative of Switzerland to participate in this meeting. In accordance with rule 39 of the Council’s provisional rules of procedure, I invite the following briefers to participate in this meeting: Mr. Tom Fletcher, Under-Secretary- General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator; Mr. Gilles Michaud, Under-Secretary-General for Safety and Security; and Ms. Elyse Nicole Mosquini, Permanent Observer and Head of the Delegation of the International Committee of the Red Cross to the United Nations. The Security Council will now begin its consideration of the item on its agenda. I now give the floor to Mr. Fletcher. Mr. Fletcher: In 2025, at least 326 humanitarians were reported as killed across 21 countries, bringing the total number of humanitarians killed in three years to more than 1,010. We recognize, grieve and honour each of our 326 colleagues, and we commit the work ahead to their memory. Of those more than 1,000 deaths, more than 560 were in Gaza and the West Bank, 130 in the Sudan, 60 in South Sudan, 25 in Ukraine and 25 in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Compared with the 377 recorded as killed globally over the previous three years, that is almost triple the death count. This is not an accidental escalation, but the collapse of protection. Those humanitarians were killed while distributing food, water, medicine and shelter. They died in clearly marked convoys and on missions coordinated directly with authorities. Too often, they were killed by Member States of the United Nations. We humanitarians know that we face risks. It is the nature of our work and the places in which we operate. These deaths are not because we are reckless with our lives. They are because parties to the conflict are reckless with our lives. Therefore, on behalf of more than 1,000 dead humanitarians and their families, we ask why. Is it because the world no longer believes in resolution 2730 (2024), in which the Council spoke — just a couple of years ago — with such moral urgency about ending violence against humanitarians? Is it because international humanitarian law, forged by a generation of wiser political leaders for just such a time as this, is no longer convenient? Is it because it is more important to protect those designing, selling, supplying and firing lethal weapons — including drones, cybertools and artificial intelligence — than to protect us? Is it because those killing us feel no cost for their actions? How many were prosecuted? How many of their leaders resigned? How many investigations did the Security Council demand? Was the Council ever selective in its outrage? Or is it because Member States see these numbers as collateral damage, part of the fog of war? Or worse, are we now somehow seen as legitimate targets? Perhaps the most chilling question is this: if those deaths were preventable, why then were they not prevented? More than 110 Member States have chosen to act together through the Declaration for the Protection of Humanitarian Personnel. Yet, across multiple crises, humanitarians are being killed, and their actions are being restricted, penalized and delegitimized. We are told where not to go and whom not to help. We are harassed or arrested for doing our job. We are lied about — and those lies have these consequences. When humanitarians are harmed, aid often stops, clinics close and food does not arrive. In Yemen, 73 United Nations personnel and dozens of non-governmental organization (NGO) personnel remain arbitrarily detained by the Houthis. In Afghanistan and Yemen, women humanitarians are prevented from doing their jobs. In Gaza, Israel restricts United Nations agencies and international NGOs. In Myanmar, insecurity and access constraints cut off aid to more than 100,000 people in a single month. And in Ukraine, drone attacks have forced aid groups to pull back from frontline communities. In all of those cases, the result of the deaths of humanitarians is too often the death of hope for millions who rely on them. Those trends, alongside the collapse in funding for our life-saving work, are symptoms of a lawless, bellicose, selfish and violent world. Killing humanitarians is part of the broader attack on the Charter of the United Nations and on international humanitarian law. International humanitarian law was never and is not now an academic exercise. In honour of our colleagues killed and in solidarity with those now risking their lives, we ask you to act with much greater conviction, consistency and courage. I normally conclude with three asks of the Security Council, but it seems somehow insulting to more than 1,000 colleagues killed to echo back to members the commitments of resolution 2730 (2024): protection, integrity and accountability. We come here not to remind Council members of these commitments but to challenge them to uphold them, because if we cast aside these hard-won principles, then the integrity of the Council and the laws we are here to protect, die with our colleagues.

I thank Mr. Fletcher for his briefing. I now give the floor to Mr. Michaud. Mr. Michaud: In March of this year in Goma, a drone hit a home, killing a UNICEF colleague. In November 2025, a Haitian colleague working for the World Health Organization was killed in Port-au-Prince in an attempted kidnapping. In May of 2024, in Gaza, a tank fired at a Department of Safety and Security vehicle, killing one of our colleagues and severely injuring another. These colleagues, these friends, died while serving humanity, supporting children trapped in the throes of war, vaccinating women and men living in violent neighbourhoods, escorting aid to reach millions of people in need. To this day, no one has been held accountable for their deaths. This is my last briefing to the Security Council. Regrettably, since I started serving the Organization and the Department of Safety and Security in 2019, the threats to humanitarian personnel have only grown in scale, intensity and frequency. The deaths I just mentioned are three among a deplorably long list of casualties to which we see no end. Since the previous time I briefed the Council (see S/PV.9889), six United Nations personnel have been killed, and another 90 have been injured from acts of violence. This includes four national staff killed and 56 injured. Our national staff continue to bear the brunt of this shameful reality. I salute their dedication to the ideals of the United Nations. There were also 14 abductions, 145 arrests and detentions, 441 acts of intimidation and harassment, 62 attacks on United Nations premises and 84 attacks on United Nations vehicles. These figures do not even include losses incurred by our peacekeeping and United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East colleagues. Truth itself is under attack, with numerous examples of misinformation and the wilful polarization and criminalization of aid, further fuelling violence against humanitarian workers. Regrettably, these attacks no longer come only from rogue non- State armed groups, who never express any particular admiration for global norms to begin with. They also come from Member States, those same Member States who have signed the Charter of the United Nations, who profess an attachment to international humanitarian law while paying little attention to such law in practice, and from the de facto authorities, some of whom claim and seek international legitimacy while flouting international principles by detaining, torturing or killing our colleagues. Regrettably, all these perpetrators are rarely held accountable. They are rarely named and shamed, let alone prosecuted. Over the past seven years, the humanitarian community’s risk tolerance has risen to unprecedented levels. Our colleagues in the fields are tolerating risks that no one in here would ever accept. They do so in the name of basic human principles, decency and humanity. They do so trusting that we, all of us in this Chamber, will protect them. They continue to do so even though we continue to fail them. In the Department of Safety and Security, with Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs and the rest of the United Nations security management system, we have done our utmost to support them. New partnerships, greater adoption of new technologies, increased use of analytics, more frequent contingency planning, updated training, enhanced emergency response procedures and so on. I know this is not the right forum to describe the range of measures we have implemented to keep colleagues safe, but it is the right place and time to tell Council members that we have stretched the security system to its limit. It is an increasingly underfunded system. Recent budget cuts have led us to reduce security support globally, from this building to all parts of the world, leaving our people ever more exposed and our programmes — in fact, the Council’s mandates — more vulnerable. Without properly resourced security, life-saving interventions cannot be sustained. It is also an increasingly ignored system. Recent and repeated calls for more Member States to adhere to the Convention on the Safety of United Nations and Associated Personnel and its Optional Protocol have gone unheeded. Without such legal commitments, impunity thrives, and the system is increasingly undermined. Traditional methods of engagement with conflict actors to protect humanitarian personnel and assets, once routine and wellfunctioning, are frequently contested or challenged. Visas for security colleagues are delayed. Vital safety equipment is denied. Deconfliction procedures are ignored. Without effective collaboration with, and support from, national Governments, risks go up and colleagues die. The Department I have had the honour to serve for seven years was created out of the ruins of the United Nations compound in Baghdad, which was attacked on 19 August 2003. The United Nations flag, buried but retrieved from the rubble on that day, is on display at the entrance of this building. It stands as a reminder of the ultimate sacrifice made by our colleagues that day, the ones made by our colleagues in Goma, Port-au- Prince and Gaza and by so many other women and men around the world. It symbolizes the resilience of all United Nations and humanitarian personnel, who, as I speak to Council members today, are risking their lives to alleviate suffering and to sustain hope for a better tomorrow for millions. I encourage them to stop by to see this flag on their way out because it must also serve as a call to action to all those who have the power to protect those who protect the most vulnerable. In his letter to the Council dated 22 November 2024 (S/2024/852), the Secretary- General offered a series of recommendations that define what this call to action could mean in practice. Those include strengthening support for personnel, survivors and victims, embedding safety and security considerations in mandates from the outset and calling for and supporting effective investigations and accountability so that attacks do not go unpunished. They are as needed today as they were then, if not more so. I urge members to use all their influence and power to ensure their swift implementation. I also encourage all Member States to sign the Declaration for the Protection of Humanitarian Personnel, launched in 2025, during the eightieth session of the General Assembly, and I thank the 122 Member States that have already done so. However, on behalf of the Department of Safety and Security and the United Nations security management system, allow me to add a few additional requests. We ask members to speak up when an actor — any actor — threatens, arbitrarily detains or kills our humanitarian colleagues. We ask members to speak up when an actor — any actor — interferes with, undermines or prevents security personnel and assets from reaching those who need their support. We ask members to name and shame the actors — all actors. We ask members to take real, consequential measures against anyone, any party, any group or any Member State that compromises the safety and security of women and men whose work saves lives — not combatants, spies or agitators, but women and men whose sole purpose, when they go to work, is to alleviate suffering and protect the vulnerable. We ask members to invest politically, financially and legally in the safety and security of those women and men, the one noble cause that should unite us all. Since 2019, I have heard many expressions of condolences for United Nations lives lost, and I appreciate them. However, those are not enough. Without real action, they are, at best, signs of helplessness. I take this opportunity to pay tribute to all humanitarian and security colleagues on the front lines of today’s most dangerous crises. I also want to recognize their families and loved ones for their sacrifices and support. Some of these women and men are citizens of the countries that Council members represent. Council members should be proud. I know I am. However, as I approach the end of my mandate, I also realize that I should have done more and that I have at times failed them — not for lack of trying, but rather because of my inability to convince Member States to provide them with the safe and secure environment they deserve, to provide them with the equipment they need and to provide them with the support they need so that they can come back home safely to their loved ones. For me, a passing grade for effort pales in comparison to what humanitarian and security colleagues have given me. Every day since I joined the United Nations, I have been inspired by their moral clarity. Their courage in helping others has been an endless source of awe. Therefore, my question to the Council — to us all in the Chamber — is: when will we exercise the same moral clarity? Who will display the same courage to protect them?

I thank Mr. Michaud for his briefing. I now give the floor to Ms. Mosquini. Ms. Mosquini: Last Saturday, in Iran, a fourth colleague of the Iranian Red Crescent Society was killed while carrying out humanitarian work. Abolfazl Dahanavi was 20 years old and had been a Red Crescent volunteer since he was 16. Last month, in Lebanon, Youssef Assaf, a colleague of the Lebanese Red Cross, suffered fatal injuries sustained while carrying out a rescue mission in southern Lebanon. In Gaza, 54 staff and volunteers of the Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS) and four colleagues from the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) have been killed since 7 October 2023, many while carrying out clearly notified, coordinated humanitarian duties. In the aftermath of the horrendous attacks in Israel, at least six staff members of Magen David Adom lost their lives. As the Council was briefed by the President of the PRCS in April last year (see S/PV.9891), in a single gruesome incident, eight of its medics were killed, along with first responders from the Civil Defence and a staff member of the United Nations. In the Sudan, last month, a volunteer of the Sudanese Red Crescent Society was killed while on duty in the maternity ward of a hospital; and in each of the two previous years, ICRC convoys came under attack, resulting in four colleagues being killed or gravely injured. In the international armed conflict between Ukraine and the Russian Federation, three ICRC staff members were killed when shelling hit the site of a planned distribution near the front line. The list goes on and on. In 2025 alone, at least 31 staff and volunteers of the Red Cross and Red Crescent national societies — and the Movement at large — were killed while carrying out their vital humanitarian work. Many were attacked while wearing a protective emblem, in clearly marked vehicles or on marked premises or other facilities. Those individuals were fathers, mothers, brothers, sisters, friends and colleagues. They were ordinary people, but they were taking extraordinary risks to perform life-saving work. We — the ICRC and the Movement at large — share the outrage at every attack and the grief at every loss within the humanitarian community. Each of these deaths is a loss to the communities that those colleagues served. When humanitarian workers are killed, people lose access to assistance and support at the very moment when they need it most. Some of these deaths have sparked public outrage; others have passed unnoticed. Yet every single one represents a failure of humanity. I address the Council today with a simple but urgent message: we are losing our humanity in war. Every attack on humanitarian personnel that passes without consequence allows that insidious pattern to continue. Each such attack signals to others that the lives of aid workers are expendable and that the rules of war and the protections that they are designed to provide are disposable. That cannot continue. Parties to armed conflict cannot keep fighting wars without limits. This is a legal, moral and humanitarian imperative: people who help others in war and humanitarian crises must not be killed; they must not be targeted. The alarming frequency of attacks is compounded by another trend: deliberate harmful information campaigns designed to erode trust in humanitarian organizations and portray our colleagues as legitimate targets. Those online attacks do not remain only online; they spur real-world violence and real-world deaths. I repeat: this cannot continue, and parties to armed conflict cannot keep fighting wars without limits. International humanitarian law is unequivocal: States must respect and protect humanitarian personnel. States must also use their influence — political, diplomatic and financial influence — to ensure respect for those rules. On 24 May 2024, the Security Council adopted resolution 2730 (2024) to reverse that tragic trend. We also appreciate the important initiative of Australia to launch the Declaration for the Protection of Humanitarian Personnel. Those steps are laudable demonstrations of the will of the members, but that will must be translated into action. Wars must have limits, and the safety and security of humanitarian personnel is one such fundamental limit that must be upheld to preserve our common humanity. We owe an immense debt to our colleagues in conflict zones who continue to serve those in need despite the risks. Their courage is extraordinary, but courage does not deflect bullets. Dedication does not shield them from drones, shelling or gunfire. The rules exist. The obligations are clear. The tools are available. Action is urgently needed. Today, the ICRC calls on the Security Council, all States and all parties to conflict to take immediate, concrete steps to protect those who risk their lives to save lives. Concretely, this means ensuring compliance with international humanitarian law by their own forces and by those with whom they partner or support, investigating attacks and holding perpetrators accountable, countering harmful narratives that endanger humanitarian personnel, securing rapid and unimpeded humanitarian access, and supporting duty of care measures, especially for local staff who bear the greatest risks. The lives of humanitarian workers and of the people they serve depend on their actions. The rules of war are clear. The Council has choices, and today it must choose to take action to protect our shared humanity.

I thank Ms. Mosquini for her briefing. I shall now give the floor to those members of the Council who wish to make statements.

The Democratic Republic of the Congo wishes to thank you, Mr. President, for convening this annual briefing dedicated to reflecting on the strengthening of the safety and security of humanitarian personnel, United Nations personnel and associated personnel, as well as their premises and operations. We also thank the briefers this morning — Mr. Tom Fletcher, Mr. Gilles Michaud and Ms. Elyse Nicole Mosquini — for their informative briefings. This meeting is particularly relevant given the current trends and the everincreasing number of incidents reported in many conflict zones. This issue clearly remains at the very heart of the international community’s concerns. As a country directly affected by recurrent conflicts, the Democratic Republic of the Congo attaches particular importance to the protection of civilians, in general. The reality is stark: civilians continue to pay a heavy toll in these conflicts, falling victim to recurrent violence and forced displacement, in particular sexual violence and grave violations of international humanitarian law. In a geopolitical context marked by fragmentation and the proliferation of crises, one could rightly ask how cooperation grounded in international law can effectively strengthen unity, stability and the effective protection of civilians in conflict zones. Resolution 2730 (2024), adopted by the Security Council on 24 May 2024, constitutes an essential milestone in this regard. It reaffirms that the protection of humanitarian personnel, United Nations personnel and associated personnel, as well as the civilians they assist, by extension, constitutes a legal obligation erga omnes — binding on all parties to a conflict. By recalling the fundamental principles of international humanitarian law, namely distinction, proportionality and precaution, the resolution consolidates a universal norm that reduces ambiguity and limits scope for geopolitical interpretations that might otherwise undermine stability. By applying these standards to all States and armed groups, it lays the foundation for coherent international cooperation. In addition to the existing legal framework, the resolution introduces concrete accountability mechanisms that translate norms into action to bolster the safety of civilians on the ground. International humanitarian law, the 1994 Convention on the Safety of United Nations and Associated Personnel and its Optional Protocol already impose clear obligations regarding the protection of personnel, premises, property and operations. Resolution 2730 (2024) reaffirms these obligations while reinforcing their effective implementation. However, the effectiveness of this framework depends on political will. Recent reports indicate a real gap between the commitments of States and their implementation. In November 2024, 116 delegations warned that it had been a particularly deadly year for humanitarian workers. In April 2025, Ms. Joyce Msuya reminded the Council that what is lacking is the political will to comply (see S/PV.9889). More recently, on 31 March 2026, the Council convened an emergency meeting following the deaths of three peacekeepers who were deliberately targeted while protecting civilians in the Middle East (see S/PV.10127). Some speakers suggested that the protection of civilians might be secondary to political considerations, relegating victims to the status of collateral damage. Such a perception is unacceptable. Resolution 2730 (2024) provides the “what” — a clear legal framework. The “how”, however, depends on States and parties to the conflict: training combatants, securing humanitarian routes, ensuring unimpeded humanitarian access and establishing accountability mechanisms for violations. Success depends on our collective ability to bridge the gap between the decisions made by the Council and the reality experienced by affected populations. Allow me to illustrate this reality. A report by the Human Rights Watch, published on 1 April 2026, on the occupation of the city of Uvira by the Mouvement du 23 mars, confirms the active involvement of Rwandan forces in the capture of the city and documents serious abuses committed in the very first days, including summary executions; abductions; restrictions on freedom of movement and expression; the targeted killing of men and boys accused, without evidence, of belonging to self-defence groups; and the rape of women and girls, in particular when alone in their fields. Three mass graves have already been identified, and many abductees remain missing. This underscores the need for coherent and determined international action. The Democratic Republic of the Congo strongly condemns all attacks against civilians, humanitarian personnel, United Nations personnel and essential infrastructure, including schools and healthcare centres. These acts constitute flagrant violations of international humanitarian law and must be punished with the utmost rigour. Furthermore, my country reaffirms the primary responsibility of States to protect their populations. In this regard, the Democratic Republic of the Congo will relentlessly pursue all necessary efforts to strengthen security across its territory, in close collaboration with all international partners, including the United Nations system. The Democratic Republic of the Congo also calls for: first, strict compliance with international humanitarian law by all parties to armed conflicts; secondly, the strengthening of mechanisms for the prevention of and response to serious violations, in particular those targeting women and children; thirdly, determined action against impunity, so that perpetrators of crimes are held accountable for their actions; fourthly, increased support for peacekeeping missions, in particular in their mandate to protect civilians. My delegation wishes to emphasize that, beyond the considerations outlined above, addressing the root causes of conflicts — including poverty, the illegal exploitation of natural resources and intercommunal tensions — is essential. Without this, it is impossible to envisage a lasting peace. In conclusion, the Democratic Republic of the Congo reaffirms that the protection of civilians and the safety of United Nations and humanitarian personnel constitute absolute imperatives for any action undertaken in a conflict setting. Ensuring their physical integrity and freedom of action means preserving human dignity, safeguarding the continuity of vital assistance and strengthening confidence in multilateral action. The Democratic Republic of the Congo therefore calls on all States and relevant parties to fully respect their obligations under international humanitarian law and to act with determination to ensure that no one is targeted when providing assistance or for simply trying to survive.

At the outset, I want to thank the President for convening this important meeting, and I extend my appreciation to Under-Secretary-General Fletcher, Under-Secretary-General Michaud and Ms. Mosquini for their insightful contributions today. The adoption of resolution 2730 (2024) marked a critical step in reaffirming our collective commitment to the protection of civilians in armed conflict, a principle at the heart of the Charter of the United Nations. The protection of civilians has been a core concern of the Council for more than two decades. Yet the statistics remain sobering. Civilian casualties in armed conflict remain disturbingly high, with women and children bearing a disproportionate burden. Despite clear legal frameworks, including the Geneva Conventions and multiple Security Council resolutions, implementation on the ground too often falls short. Attacks on healthcare facilities, forced displacement and denial of humanitarian access continue with alarming regularity, underscoring the urgent need for renewed action and accountability. Against this backdrop, I would like to make the following three points. First, we must place accountability at the centre of our efforts. When violations against civilians go unpunished, impunity becomes the norm and the cycle of violence deepens. The United Nations and its Member States must strengthen mechanisms for independent investigations and support efforts to bring perpetrators to justice. Without meaningful accountability, the suffering of civilians will continue unabated. Nowhere is this more painfully clear than the Occupied Palestinian Territory, where a repeated cycle of violence has devastated communities and left a legacy of trauma and loss. We call on the occupying Power, Israel, to uphold its obligations under international law and ensure the protection of civilians in the Occupied Palestinian Territory. Secondly, we must confront the growing use of sophisticated technology, such as drones and autonomous weapons, which is increasingly deployed in today’s conflicts. The impact of these technologies has been particularly devastating in the Sudan conflict, where their use alongside the actions of the Rapid Support Forces, which have been credibly accused of committing atrocities against civilians, has compounded the suffering of innocent people. The Council must urgently support independent investigations into these abuses and impose targeted sanctions on those responsible. At the same time, we must work to establish clear international standards for the use of such technologies, ensuring they are never employed in ways that endanger civilian lives or undermine international law. Thirdly, we must address the threat of disinformation and misinformation in conflict zones. These campaigns fuel violence and divisions, directly endangering civilians and humanitarian workers. False narratives can incite hostility, obstruct aid delivery and erode trust in neutral humanitarian efforts. The Council must unite to address the spread of false information and support accurate, transparent communication in all conflict-affected areas. The deliberate targeting of civilians is a stain on our conscience and a direct attack on the foundations of peace. In every place of crisis, families are shattered, children orphaned, homes reduced to rubble and futures stolen in an instant. We cannot meet this suffering with silence or half-measures. My delegation is committed to working with all members to turn these promises into meaningful protection for those most at risk. We owe it to all people around the world to show, through real action, that their lives matter and that the Council will not turn away from its duty.

I thank you, Mr. President, for convening today’s important meeting. I thank Under-Secretary-General Fletcher, Under-Secretary- General Michaud and Ms. Mosquini for their insightful briefings. At present, the world is beset by conflicts and unrest. Tensions are high in the Middle East, Lebanon, the Sudan and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, among other places. Countless civilians are shrouded in the shadows of war, displacement and disaster. In the face of human suffering, the light of humanitarianism has never dimmed. Humanitarian workers have built lifelines in conflict zones, while the United Nations and peacekeeping personnel have spared no effort to protect civilians, sometimes even giving their lives. It is deeply distressing that humanitarian workers and United Nations personnel have repeatedly come under attack in conflicts. We pay high tribute to all humanitarian workers and United Nations personnel who remain steadfast on the front lines. We extend our deepest condolences for those who have lost their lives. Those who safeguard lives should not themselves be put in danger. The international community must unite and take strong action to ensure the safety of humanitarian workers and United Nations personnel. I will make four points. First, we must eliminate conflicts and violence to build a solid foundation for security. As long as conflicts persist, the dangers faced by humanitarian workers will continue, and tragedies involving attacks on them cannot be fully eliminated. The Security Council must fulfil its primary responsibility for maintaining international peace and security by promoting dialogue, facilitating negotiations and advancing ceasefires. All parties to conflicts should stay committed to a vision of common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable security. They must resolve disputes peacefully and replace confrontation with dialogue to build durable peace. Secondly, international law must be upheld and humanitarian action safeguarded. Humanitarian workers and United Nations personnel must not be targets of military operations. Humanitarian assistance must not be deliberately weaponized. These are widely recognized basic principles of international humanitarian law and must not be challenged. Compliance with international humanitarian law is an obligation for all parties. It is not optional. Any double standard or selective application erodes the foundation of the rules of law and encourages further violations. All violations of international humanitarian law must be strictly punished and should not be tolerated or condoned. Thirdly, smearing and suppression must stop. The role of the United Nations must be respected. For some time, the United Nations and its agencies have faced systematic smearing and attacks. That seriously hinders their normal functioning and undermines their authority and role. The work of the United Nations should be respected and supported. The privileges and immunities of United Nations agencies and personnel must be guaranteed. The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), with its mandate conferred by the General Assembly, serves as a lifeline for Palestine refugees. However, more than 390 of its staff have been killed in Gaza. Its operations in East Jerusalem have been shut down by force. Its facilities have been demolished. China firmly opposes these actions. Israel must fulfil its obligations under international law as the occupying Power and cease its attacks and suppression of UNRWA. Fourthly, we need to strengthen international support and improve protection mechanisms. China appreciates efforts made by the Department of Safety and Security and others to protect humanitarian workers and United Nations personnel. It supports enhanced international cooperation with the United Nations to improve protection systems. Field missions should accurately assess evolving risks, improve contingency plans and better facilitate humanitarian operations. The United Nations peace and development trust fund has supported multiple crisis management training programmes conducted by the Department of Safety and Security, helping to enhance the Secretariat’s emergency response capabilities and better ensure personnel safety. China, together with Brazil, Jordan, Kazakhstan, South Africa and others, has launched an initiative on international humanitarian law in collaboration with the International Committee of the Red Cross, which is aimed at revitalizing the international community’s steadfast commitment to international humanitarian law. More than 100 countries have already joined the initiative, and we call on more to do so to promote compliance with and implementation of international humanitarian law. China has always been a steadfast supporter of and active contributor to international peace and humanitarian efforts. We stand ready to continue to work with all parties to make unremitting efforts to protect the safety of humanitarian workers and United Nations personnel.

We would like to thank the Under-Secretary-General for Safety and Security, Mr. Gilles Michaud, and the Head of the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, Mr. Tom Fletcher, as well as the Head of the Delegation of the International Committee of the Red Cross to the United Nations, Ms. Elyse Nicole Mosquini, for their briefings relating to the implementation of resolution 2730 (2024). Their assessments leave no doubt that the security situation for humanitarian workers and United Nations personnel continues to deteriorate. It should be recalled, and this was mentioned by Mr. Gilles Michaud today, that the issue of protecting humanitarian workers became firmly entrenched in the Council’s agenda following the tragic events of August 2003, when a terrorist attack on the United Nations headquarters in Baghdad claimed the lives of 22 people, including 15 staff members of the Organization. At that time, the international community declared its determination to ensure safe conditions for those who assist others in the most dire circumstances. Subsequent developments, however, have demonstrated that this task is not easily accomplished. Humanitarian workers have continued, and still continue, to systematically fall victim to attacks and violence, both in the context of armed conflicts and in peacetime. Nevertheless, the trends observed over the past three years, characterized by a sharp rise in threats to humanitarian workers, are cause for serious concern. The year 2023 marked a turning point and set a tragic record: 297 staff members of humanitarian organizations died in the line of duty. In 2024, the death toll rose to 388, and in 2025 it stood at 329. Those statistics, which reflect a multitude of human tragedies, bring us to the pivotal question regarding the causes of those events. I believe that the causes are evident to everyone in this Chamber, even if not everyone has the courage to openly acknowledge them. More than half of all fatalities of humanitarian workers are directly linked to the conflict in Palestine and Israel’s military operations. Regrettably, even amid a decline in the intensity of hostilities in the Gaza Strip, civilians and humanitarian and medical personnel continue to lose their lives. The same applies to the situation in the West Bank of the Jordan River. The events in Palestine serve as a particularly stark illustration of the failure of the deconfliction mechanisms promoted by the United Nations Secretariat. Touted as a protection tool, in practice these mechanisms, along with their associated notification systems are glaringly ineffective; not only do they fail to meet expectations pinned on them, but frequently they even backfire. Humanitarian workers are increasingly apprehensive about sharing the coordinates of their facilities, fearing that such information could be used against them. Similarly, the heads of humanitarian organizations are reluctant to provide the Israeli side with lists of their personnel, simply out of concern for their safety. Under those circumstances, what “deconfliction” can one possibly speak of? Indeed, we have previously highlighted its ineffectiveness in the context of Syria and other hotspots. In Gaza, extremely dangerous trends are emerging. Humanitarian workers there frequently become deliberate targets. Examples abound. We all recall the cold-blooded killing a year ago of a team of paramedics from the Palestine Red Crescent Society, whose bodies were discovered in a mass grave. Cases of so-called double-tap strikes — in which those arriving to aid the wounded are themselves subjected to attacks — are becoming increasingly frequent. Of particular concern is the plight of staff of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East, who face unprecedented levels of threats and pressure simply for doing their jobs. Israel’s decisions — aimed at discrediting and curtailing the Agency’s operations —directly undermine the safety of not only Agency personnel, but also the hundreds of thousands of Palestinians who rely on humanitarian aid. We are deeply alarmed that the situation in Lebanon is unfolding according to the Palestinian scenario, with the death toll continuing to rise and attacks on critical infrastructure being reported. Between 2 March and 5 April, nearly 1,500 people were killed, including 129 children, and 92 attacks on medical facilities were documented. Moreover, a volunteer with the Lebanese Red Cross was killed. On 5 April, Médecins sans frontières reported a strike on a densely populated district of Beirut, located just one hundred metres from a hospital where its staff members were working. In Iran, an equally alarming situation is developing, and now involving the direct participation of the United States of America. We are witnessing strikes on civilian infrastructure, including medical facilities. This inevitably leads to a rising death toll among the civilian population and poses a direct threat to humanitarian personnel. Reports have already emerged of damage to at least 316 medical facilities and the destruction of humanitarian warehouses. More than 100 ambulances have been attacked, and 24 rescue workers have lost their lives. The victims of this war included Abolfazl Dahanavi, a 20-year-old volunteer with the Iranian Red Crescent, who was killed four days ago while providing aid to those in need. He is the fifth staff member of the Iranian Red Crescent to die since the conflict began. All those facts and figures provide grounds to speak not merely of isolated incidents, but of a systemic practice incompatible with the norms of international humanitarian law. Attacks on hospitals, schools and humanitarian facilities, as well as the abduction and intimidation of United Nations personnel, undermine the very foundation of humanitarian response. And this is occurring against a backdrop in which no fewer than 239 million people worldwide require urgent humanitarian assistance. Some experts, and even certain delegations, attempt to attribute current problems to a need for developing additional international legal instruments or strengthening the role of the International Criminal Court. However, we remain convinced that the necessary international norms have long existed and are well known, namely, the 1949 Geneva Conventions and their Protocols Additional, as well as the 1994 Convention on the Safety of United Nations and Associated Personnel. We firmly believe that the current crisis stems not from a shortage of legal instruments, but from the fact that those documents are applied selectively, or simply ignored, by certain countries. Let us recall that even among the permanent members of the Security Council, there are States that have not acceded to those key documents. Turning to the role of the International Criminal Court, allow me to note that this pseudo-court has completely discredited itself, having transformed into an instrument of political manipulation and pressure in the hands of a number of Western nations. Indeed, its bias is no longer in doubt among many States. It is evident to us that what is needed is not to create new mechanisms or draft various kinds of declarations that lack inclusiveness but to ensure strict compliance with existing standards. It is also important to remember that the States in whose territories humanitarian organizations operate bear primary responsibility for their safety and security. That is precisely why humanitarian organizations themselves must prioritize the protection of their personnel and establish cooperation with the host State authorities in such a way as to mitigate risks and ensure the sustainability and safety and security of their operations.

I would like to thank Mr. Tom Fletcher, Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator; Mr. Gilles Michaud, Under-Secretary-General for Safety and Security; and Ms. Elyse Nicole Mosquini, Permanent Observer of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), for their statements, which serve as a reminder of the gravity of the situation. I especially wish to thank them for their efforts and those of the personnel of their organizations, who are dedicated to humanitarian operations and the protection of United Nations personnel. Since this is Mr. Michaud’s last statement before the Security Council, I wish to convey to him our gratitude, our respect for his efforts and for the effectiveness and efficiency of his work. The international community is responsible for protecting humanitarian workers. This is a legal, political and moral responsibility. By protecting humanitarian workers, we seek to spare civilians from the horrors of war, and it is the possibility of peace that we seek to preserve. This protection is a legal obligation. Under the 1949 Geneva Conventions and their 1977 Protocols Additional, all States have an obligation to protect humanitarian personnel and to ensure that they can fully assist those in need. Under article 8 of the Rome Statute, attacks against humanitarian personnel constitute a war crime, and those responsible can and must be brought to justice. Today belligerents, be they States, armed groups, terrorist groups or gangs, are objectively allies in undermining international humanitarian law in the brutalization of the world by systematically targeting humanitarian personnel. The three speakers from this morning stated eloquently that a system for destruction of the law is being established. The reasons are many, and they amount to the same thing — lawless and ruthless wars. This goes hand in hand with another phenomenon, which is equally reprehensible and alarming — increasingly systematic contempt for rules that protect civilians in armed conflict. The two go hand in hand. As many today have pointed out, 2024 was the deadliest year for humanitarian workers, with 377 personnel killed; and 295 were killed in 2025. The majority of these workers were killed in Palestine, while serving under the banner of the United Nations, primarily United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees personnel, as well as staff from non-governmental organizations and the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement. This has continued in 2026 throughout the world, as evidenced by the death of a French UNICEF humanitarian worker, in addition to that of several civilians in Goma on 11 March, the deaths of seven medical staff at Al-Jabalain Hospital in the Sudan on 3 April and the deaths of personnel supporting World Health Organization medical evacuations in Rafah on 6 April. The war in Ukraine, where the Russian forces are systematically targeting civilians, as well as civilian infrastructure, including schools, hospitals and energy infrastructure, is part of the same phenomenon that is also victimizing humanitarian personnel. The war in the Middle East is exacerbating this grim reality, with dozens of Lebanese and Iranian humanitarian workers killed since 28 February, in addition to the three Indonesian United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon peacekeepers. France pays tribute to all of these personnel who have been killed or wounded, as well as to the thousands of humanitarian workers who, despite the risks — including arrest and detention — remain committed to their mission. In the light of such a phenomenon, the Council and its members must act to protect humanitarian and civilian personnel. Action can and must be taken on several fronts. First, it is important that the Council, which adopted resolution 2730 (2024), see to the enforcement of all resolutions. This includes condemning violations and their perpetrators in Council statements. We also have a duty to work to ensure that there are guarantees for humanitarian personnel in Security Council resolutions. Ultimately, it falls to us to seek concrete mechanisms to ensure objective, permanent and comprehensive follow-up when it comes to violations of international humanitarian law throughout the world. Moreover, States need to act collaboratively in order to hold perpetrators accountable for these crimes. France reiterates the need for all States to ratify the 1994 Convention on the Safety of United Nations and Associated Personnel, as well as its 2005 Optional Protocol. We call on the members of the Council to set an example in this regard. Similarly, the International Criminal Court is an important instrument available to States and the Council to hold war criminals accountable and to put an end to such atrocities. Finally, the protection of humanitarian personnel must be part of a broader championing of international humanitarian law, of which the Council serves as a guarantor. We reiterate our call for all States to join the global initiative on international humanitarian law, launched by the ICRC alongside six States, including France and China, which charts an operational path to ensure that the rights of civilians, including humanitarian workers, are fully respected in times of war.

I thank Under-Secretary-General Fletcher, Under- Secretary-General Michaud and the Permanent Observer of the International Committee of the Red Cross for their detailed briefings on this topic, which lies at the very heart of the Council’s work and responsibility. I also welcome the Permanent Representative of Switzerland to this meeting. As we have just heard, attacks against United Nations and humanitarian personnel are on the rise. Whether by bullet, bomb or drone, such assaults are a criminal affront to each of us as members of the United Nations and, in particular, to the Council. Since the adoption of this resolution two years ago, we have continued to witness staggering levels of violence against United Nations and humanitarian personnel, from Haiti to Ukraine and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Over the past 12 months alone, we have seen the bombing of multiple World Food Programme humanitarian convoys and medical facilities in the Sudan. In December, we also witnessed lethal drone attacks on a United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei logistics base in Kadugli. In Lebanon, dozens of humanitarian personnel and first responders have been killed amid the ongoing hostilities between Israel and Hizbullah. The World Health Organization has reported that 53 health workers have been killed, 137 have been injured and 16 hospitals have been damaged — a likely undercount. Only last week, the Council met urgently to address the deaths of three peacekeepers in the country’s south (see S/PV.10127). Denmark condemns all attacks directed at civilians and civilian infrastructure, including first responders and healthcare personnel, in line with resolution 2286 (2016). In Gaza, multiple violations of the October 2025 ceasefire continue to be reported. Dozens of aid workers have been killed in the Occupied Palestinian Territory over the past year. Obstruction of United Nations and humanitarian personnel persists as humanitarian actors are being prevented from saving lives through denied access. Emerging technologies, such as automated weapons systems, drones and artificial intelligence-enabled decision-support tools, represent new challenges — and potential tools — to ensuring the protection of United Nations and humanitarian personnel in accordance with international humanitarian law. This must also be factored into our discussions. Against this backdrop, I wish to make three points. First, as we have said before: tolerance signals acceptance. In the absence of clear and consistent condemnations, we effectively set the price paid by the perpetrators for such attacks at zero. Systematic condemnations from the Council are a crucial first step towards reversing this trend, as we also heard this morning from Under-Secretary- General Michaud. Secondly, these attacks are not only carried out by militias or non‑State armed groups; they are also perpetrated by State actors, by Members of this Organization. This reality must not only prompt serious discussion but also action aimed at ensuring compliance and holding perpetrators accountable. Thirdly, Member States can and should make better use of existing tools to uphold international law and ensure accountability, whether through the Council, including its sanctions regimes, or, where this body is deadlocked, through the General Assembly, as well as national initiatives, such as the exercise of universal jurisdiction. Only when perpetrators face real consequences and when Member States take genuine action will we begin to deter such behaviour. In conclusion, our shared multilateral system cannot and should not endure the strain imposed by blatant disregard for international humanitarian law. This is not only about safeguarding our institutions; it is about protecting the best of us — the United Nations and humanitarian personnel who stand on the front lines, day in day out, delivering aid and saving lives. Only by acting together towards this objective can we fulfil the vision of resolution 2730 (2024).

I thank Under-Secretaries-General Fletcher and Michaud and Ms. Mosquini for their briefings. I thank them for their focus on protection, integrity and accountability, for their focus on moral clarity and courage and for their focus on humanity in war, and we stand with them in honouring their colleagues who have lost their lives. In conflicts and crises around the world, humanitarian and United Nations personnel are often the first to arrive and the last to leave, risking their lives to save others. The year 2024 was the deadliest on record, with 383 aid workers killed. In 2025, more than 320 were killed. And already in 2026, the devastation continues, with aid workers killed across the Middle East, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Sudan. This cannot continue. The United Kingdom was proud to co-sponsor resolution 2730 (2024) in May 2024. We hoped it would mark a turning point. Instead, threats to humanitarian personnel have intensified. We must act urgently. Resolution 2730 (2024) must be implemented fully without delay. In all humanitarian crises, local personnel bear the greatest risk. In Yemen, local humanitarian personnel remain arbitrarily detained. We reiterate calls for their immediate and unconditional release. In the Sudan, local aid workers continue to sustain their response amid relentless insecurity, obstruction and violence. And in Gaza, the overwhelming majority of the more than 589 aid workers killed since 7 October 2023 were local staff, including 391 United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East staff. Behind every aid worker killed is a family and a community left grieving. The implementation of resolution 2730 (2024) requires sustained investment in practical protection to keep humanitarian workers safe. This includes civil-military coordination, robust security and duty of care and consistent support to front-line agencies. The United Kingdom supports global platforms, such as the International NGO Safety Organisation, the Global Interagency Security Forum and the Aid Worker Security Database, alongside our support to front-line agencies, and we urge others to do the same. We must also address emerging risks. The growing use of uncrewed aerial systems by those not acting within the confines of international humanitarian law is making fragile environments even more dangerous. This has had fatal consequences in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Sudan and Ukraine. Disinformation further erodes trust and shrinks humanitarian space. We must call out disinformation and counter false narratives that endanger those delivering life-saving assistance. Finally, international humanitarian law must be upheld by all parties to armed conflict. The United Kingdom is proud to co-chair a workstream under the global international humanitarian law initiative of the International Committee of the Red Cross and to have co-launched, with Australia, the political declaration on the protection of humanitarian personnel. We call for full compliance with international humanitarian law and for transparent, timely investigations when aid workers are harmed. Two years since the World Central Kitchen strike in Gaza, in which three British nationals were killed, we are still waiting for Israel to conclude and publish its findings regarding this attack. Israel has a responsibility to provide answers as to how and why this happened. We must honour the dedication of those on the front lines by showing the same level of commitment in our actions. Resolution 2730 (2024) must be more than a paper promise; it must be a practical priority and implemented fully by all.

I thank you, Mr. President, for convening this meeting. I also extend my thanks to the Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator and the Under-Secretary- General and Head of the Department of Safety and Security for their briefings. I also thank the Head of Delegation of the International Committee of the Red Cross for her presentation. I welcome the Permanent Representative of Switzerland, who is with us today. All parties to conflict have the absolute obligation to respect and ensure respect for international humanitarian law, including the safety of those who are providing humanitarian assistance. Any form of violation of these norms constitutes an assault on life, dignity and the humanitarian mission and places at risk those who depend on critical aid to survive amid conflict. Even though the norms are clear, armed actors continue to violate international humanitarian law. Two years after the adoption of resolution 2730 (2024), Colombia deeply regrets the persistence of a pattern of systematic violence and deliberate and indiscriminate aggressions against civilians, including humanitarian and United Nations personnel. In 2025 alone, there were more than 560 attacks against humanitarian workers. Current conflict trends aggravate the situation further still. The indiscriminate use of explosive devices in highly populated areas and the proliferation of low-cost technologies are significantly increasing threats not only to civilians but also to humanitarian facilities and critical civilian infrastructure. These dynamics bring about increasingly unsafe and complex operational contexts for humanitarian action. In this context, allow me to refer to three aspects that require attention. First, we must address the spread of disinformation, misinformation and hate speech against humanitarian organizations and United Nations staff, as well as attempts to criminalize humanitarian assistance. In this regard, it is imperative to ensure clear and coordinated communication with local authorities and the media that must be based on data and evidence, fostering collaboration with technology companies to support these efforts. It is also necessary to freely and firmly denounce and condemn such remarks and protect journalists’ independence. Secondly, national and local staff form the backbone of humanitarian action, yet they face the greatest risks. To strengthen their protection, it is essential to ensure ongoing training, strengthen monitoring systems, continuously adapt security risk management measures and ensure adequate resources for their protection and well-being, including psychosocial support. Similarly, it is essential to promote an approach that equitably distributes risk and to ensure that it has adequate and sustained funding. On this point, it is imperative to recognize the distinct risks faced by women in humanitarian action; gender-based violence and the restrictions on access to safe workspaces are not just violations of their fundamental rights; they directly affect the capacity of humanitarian operations to respond to the needs of populations, in particular women and girls. It is necessary to guarantee safe and inclusive environments that are free from discrimination for female humanitarian staff. Thirdly, we can no longer accept impunity for attacks against humanitarian and United Nations personnel. There must be no ambiguity; these acts constitute serious violations of international humanitarian law and, in many cases, may amount to war crimes. To prevent this, decisive actions must be taken by States to immediately ensure robust, impartial and independent investigations and judicial proceedings that lead to concrete sanctions against those responsible. It is also essential to promote the incorporation and effective application of universal jurisdiction within national legal frameworks, where applicable, to ensure justice for victims. This requires strengthening institutional capacities, regulatory frameworks and mechanisms for judicial cooperation. When national systems fail to act, the international community must play a fundamental role in providing guidance, support and cooperation to facilitate implementation, monitor compliance and ensure that impunity does not prevail. Colombia supports strengthening respect for international humanitarian law by ensuring safe, rapid and unimpeded humanitarian access and the comprehensive protection of all humanitarian personnel. We call for active support for and adherence to initiatives such as the Declaration for the Protection of Humanitarian Personnel, which promotes specific commitments to strengthen the prevention of attacks, improve early-warning mechanisms, strengthen the operational protection of personnel and ensure accountability for violations. Only through consistent and principle-based practical measures can we reverse the current worrisome trend and ensure that those who provide vital assistance can do so safely and with dignity.

At the outset, I would like to thank Bahrain for convening this meeting on resolution 2730 (2024), a matter of significant importance that warrants the Council’s close consideration. We also welcome the participation of Switzerland, which led the work on resolution 2730 (2024) in the Council two years ago. Latvia was proud to be a co-sponsor, along with other United Nations Member States. I also thank Under- Secretary-General Fletcher and Under-Secretary-General Michaud, as well as the Permanent Observer of the International Committee of the Red Cross, Ms. Mosquini, for their informative briefings. Latvia commends the efforts of local and international organizations, United Nations personnel, assistance providers and humanitarian workers, who continue to risk their lives in the most dangerous environments. Local and national humanitarian workers, those closest to affected communities, face disproportionate risk. We see this pattern across the globe. In South Sudan, a Médecins sans frontières hospital in Lankien was struck, forcing life-saving services to cease. In Ukraine, the Russian Federation continues with targeted attacks on clearly marked humanitarian convoys, from the World Food Programme in October 2025 to local humanitarian workers in March. In Gaza, humanitarian workers continue to risk their lives to help Palestinian civilians under extremely difficult conditions. Accountability is important. As State involvement in armed conflicts increases, the responsibility of ceasing these attacks rests largely with United Nations Members States. Violations of international humanitarian law must not go unpunished. When there is a military attack on a humanitarian convoy because it was supposedly transporting weapons, the proof must meet international standards. When the attacked ambulance was allegedly hiding combatants not hors de combat, the State must grant access to international monitoring so that this claim can be verified. To uphold accountability, we must support effective investigations, name and sanction those responsible, and prevent impunity from further endangering international and local humanitarians. Often the threats to humanitarian personnel are fueled by hate speech, disinformation and information manipulation campaigns, frequently propelled by algorithms on online platforms. Unverified accusations of militarized or compromised humanitarian aid workers have put countless volunteers at risk. States cannot justify their blatant violations or interpret their obligations contrary to established international humanitarian law by hiding behind disinformation. If we want the United Nations to function effectively, we must ensure that United Nations personnel are able to operate safely. Technology is playing an increasingly visible role in shaping the environment in which humanitarian personnel operate. The proliferation of the use of drones in conflict leads to new security risks. The incident with a UNICEF staff member killed in Goma in March clearly illustrates this reality. Technology is becoming cheaper and more accessible also to non-State groups. This underscores the importance of upholding international humanitarian law and its core principles by all actors and in all circumstances, including in relation to emerging technologies. At the same time, technology can also serve as an instrument that helps humanitarian efforts. Such tools as the United Nations Development Programme’s Rapid Digital Assessment can help to speed up action and make humanitarian support more efficient. Technology-enabled protection instruments can also contribute to the safety of humanitarian personnel, for instance, through early warning. Therefore, we must adapt our approach to the protection of humanitarian personnel in a way that addresses the emerging risks but also takes advantage of new technological developments. I conclude by reiterating Latvia’s firm and unwavering commitment to the Declaration for the Protection of Humanitarian Personnel. We will continue to advocate for the safety of humanitarian personnel, both within and outside the United Nations system, and for the perpetrators to be brought to justice.

Today’s briefings did more than inform the Security Council. They gave voice to the lives that too often disappear behind our expressions of grief, outrage and condemnation. They reminded us that when we speak of civilian harm, and its increasingly grim statistics, we are speaking really of a father who did not come home, a mother trying to hold together what remains of her family, a person’s only child whose future was cut short. We are speaking of families who watched a loved one leave home to help bring peace to a troubled region — under the United Nations protective flag — and who now wait anxiously for a return that is no longer assured. For this, I join others in thanking the briefers and, through them, all those who continue to serve humankind, under the increasingly difficult conditions described. We welcome the distinguished colleague from Switzerland to the Chamber. The Security Council has addressed the protection of civilians many times. What distinguishes this moment is not a lack of information, but a question of resolve, whether the Council will act on what it has already seen, documented and acknowledged, as the Under-Secretaries-General and Permanent Observer of the International Committee of the Red Cross have asked us to do. Across the United Nations system, the message is clear. The General Assembly has reaffirmed the obligation to protect civilians and ensure humanitarian access. The Secretary‑General’s reports continue to identify the same patterns: blocked assistance, attacks on civilian infrastructure and disregard for the laws of war. These outcomes are not inevitable. They reflect choices made when restraint is optional and accountability uncertain. But these can be changed. Against this backdrop, Liberia wishes to emphasize five points. First, civilian harm persists because, as our briefers have reminded us, it is too often treated as tolerable, or even useful. When hospitals are struck without consequence, when aid convoys are obstructed with impunity and when families bury their dead while the world moves on, compliance with humanitarian law becomes conditional. If protection is to be meaningful, civilian harm must no longer be perceived as a viable tactic of war. Secondly, condemnation must be translated into consequence. This does not require new principles, but consistent application of existing ones: credible and timely attribution of violations, behaviour‑linked responses and accountability pathways that are visible and personal, including through international mechanisms, where appropriate. Such measures do not limit the Council’s authority; actually they reinforce its credibility and deterrent effect. Thirdly, prevention must come from response. The Council has influence, long before the first civilian is harmed. In situations at risk, it should encourage early commitments: rules of engagement consistent with international humanitarian law, agreed no‑strike lists for civilian infrastructure and assistance frameworks explicitly conditioned on compliance. Preventing harm is not an aspiration, it must be a matter of early decision. Fourthly, consistency is essential. A civilian’s life does not carry different weight depending on the conflict in which it is lost. Selective application of principles anywhere weakens deterrence everywhere and definitely erodes confidence in the Council’s role. Fifthly, we must protect those who serve to protect others. The continued detention of United Nations personnel in Yemen, among other contexts, illustrates a broader and troubling trend. When humanitarian workers and United Nations staff can be detained or targeted without consequence, civilian protection as a whole is undermined. The Council should therefore be prepared to respond swiftly and predictably when such acts occur, including through diplomatic consequences and limits on engagement with responsible actors. Liberia offers these points informed by experience. Our own journey from conflict to peace underscored that restraint, accountability and early intervention are decisive in protecting civilians. Even in peace, Liberia continues to pursue accountability, not to reopen wounds, but to strengthen confidence in the rule of law and to signal that violations, when left unaddressed, carry lasting costs. In conclusion, the choice before the Council is between reacting after lives are lost or acting early enough to prevent those losses, because protection of civilians cannot continue to be a post facto appeal. It must become a precondition shaping how parties to conflict calculate their actions. Behaviour, after all, is more likely to change when consequences are certain and restraint is rewarded. The Council has the authority to create those conditions. What remains is the will to use it. We urge the Council to act, decisively, consistently, fairly and in time.

I thank Under-Secretary-General Michaud, Under-Secretary-General Fletcher and Ms. Mosquini for their briefings. I welcome our colleague, the Permanent Representative of Switzerland, this morning. Before I begin my remarks, is this Gilles’ final briefing? I thank him for his leadership and his commitment to the mission. On a personal level, I thank him for his friendship and for being very patient with all of my questions these past six months as I tried to understand this very large institution. We will miss him. The United States remains committed to the protection of United Nations and humanitarian personnel and civilians around the world. Humanitarian workers put themselves at risk to support people in dire need — something I witnessed first-hand just a few months ago in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Central African Republic and Kenya — and often they work in active conflict zones. Resolution 2730 (2024) demands that all parties to conflict comply with their obligations under international humanitarian law, including their obligations related to the respect and protection of humanitarian personnel. It is a clear violation of international humanitarian law to target those civilians who assist and protect the most vulnerable. We call on all parties in active conflicts to take every feasible measure to mitigate harm to humanitarian personnel and civilians. The United Nations has also recommended that responsible parties facilitate humanitarian access. The United States is working around the world, as part of President Trump’s peacemaking efforts, to ensure humanitarians have access to do their lifesaving work, from Gaza to the Sudan to Ukraine and beyond. Despite our efforts, and those of our many partners, significant gaps remain, and aid workers continue to be targeted by malicious actors. Unsurprisingly, United States adversaries, who have little respect for international law or human dignity, are frequently the perpetrators of violence against humanitarian workers. We are grateful for Bahrain’s achievement in pushing forward the historic resolution 2817 (2026), with the most co-sponsors of any Security Council resolution in history, and for its continued efforts to hold the Iranian regime to account. Iran’s deliberate targeting of civilians in the Gulf region demonstrates a lack of respect for international humanitarian law and is at odds with the principles of international peace and security. In Yemen, Iran continues to support the Houthis, despite the fact that they have taken action against the United Nations, humanitarian organizations and the diplomatic community in ways that make operations untenable. The Houthis continue to hold more than 70 United Nations staff and at least 20 United States locally engaged staff and have refused recent meetings with the United Nations to discuss their fate. The Houthis demonstrate nothing but contempt for the United Nations humanitarian mission, in line with their broader violent conduct, for which the United States designated them as a foreign terrorist organization and specially designated global terrorist. Guided by resolution 2803 (2025), we underscore that all parties must protect civilians and humanitarian personnel integral to implementing President Donald J. Trump’s Comprehensive Plan to End the Gaza Conflict and creating a stable and prosperous Middle East. In the Sudan, the United States calls on the warring parties to immediately end the violence and cease all attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure, including hospitals and health facilities. Hospitals have been destroyed, cutting off life-saving services for hundreds of vulnerable civilians who are already facing acute malnutrition. The killing of civilians, including children, health workers and humanitarian staff, is simply deplorable. Every day of continued fighting is costing more innocent lives. This needs to end now. The same threats to humanitarian workers persist in South Sudan, which remains one of the most dangerous places in the world for aid workers, with a disturbing escalation of targeted attacks on medical and humanitarian operations. In February, aerial bombardment and looting damaged two health facilities that together served an estimated 250,000 people, cutting them off from essential life-saving health services. Between 30 January and 1 February, armed actors looted approximately 1,500 metric tons of food aid, depriving already vulnerable communities of critical assistance. In addition to disregarding international humanitarian law, these actions have disrespected Council resolutions 2730 (2024) and 2286 (2016). On 11 March, a reported drone strike in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo killed UNICEF staff member Karine Buisset along with other civilians, adding to the tragic loss of life that continues to affect countless civilians. We urge the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Rwanda and the Mouvement du 23 mars to uphold the protection of United Nations and humanitarian personnel, and we call for full humanitarian access to eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo. As we reflect on the impact these crises have on communities, we call on Member States to adhere to their obligations under international humanitarian law to protect humanitarian workers and civilians in armed conflicts.

I would like to start by thanking Under-Secretary-General Tom Fletcher, Under-Secretary-General Gilles Michaud and the Permanent Observer of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), Ms. Elyse Nicole Mosquini, for their comprehensive and insightful briefings. I would also like to welcome the Permanent Representative of Switzerland to this meeting. Greece welcomes the second annual briefing on the implementation of resolution 2730 (2024) at a time of protracted and complex armed conflicts with the deadliest impact ever recorded on the safety and security of humanitarian workers. We pay tribute to the fallen humanitarian and United Nations and associated personnel, including national and locally recruited personnel, who have lost their lives trying to save others. I would also like to express our sincere appreciation and debt to all those who, risking their lives, continue to provide those in need with help, relief and hope. Twenty-seven years ago, in 1999, briefing the Security Council, the former ICRC President, Cornelio Sommaruga, spoke of 20 active conflicts (see S/PV.3977). Today, more than 130 conflicts are recorded by the ICRC worldwide, in parts of Africa, the Middle East, Europe, Asia and Latin America. In 2025, as reported by Under-Secretary- General Fletcher, 326 humanitarian and United Nations and associated personnel lost their lives in conflicts across the world. Against this alarming backdrop, allow me to underline the following points. First, we strongly condemn the increased number of attacks against humanitarian and United Nations and associated personnel, including national and locally recruited personnel. All parties to armed conflicts must comply with their obligations under international humanitarian law. This compliance includes respect for the safety and security of the aforementioned personnel and for safe and effective humanitarian operations, including the facilitation of the safe, rapid and unhindered passage of humanitarian assistance. Let us not forget: Gaza remains by far the deadliest place for humanitarian workers, alongside the Sudan and South Sudan. Only last week, three humanitarian workers were killed in Lebanon. Secondly, accountability must become the norm, not the exception. Attacks against humanitarian workers must not go unpunished. The State authorities concerned must conduct full, transparent and effective investigations into allegations of attacks against humanitarian workers and prosecute those responsible. We also call on the Secretary- General, as per resolution 2730 (2024), to provide updates through regular reporting and to swiftly report to the Council on an ad hoc basis when widespread attacks and violations occur against humanitarian personnel and United Nations and associated personnel. Thirdly, the confidence of civilians in humanitarian action must be enhanced. Greece stresses the need to confront the threat of misinformation, disinformation and hate speech against humanitarian and United Nations organizations and to protect civilians from false narratives that threaten their access to humanitarian assistance. Digital innovation can be a valuable tool in the effort to enable security risk management and respond to risks. Fourthly, humanitarian operations in high-risk contexts must be safeguarded. Peacekeeping and political missions must be enabled to effectively reach people in need. The Security Council must ensure that operational and security capacities on the ground are strengthened by incorporating safety and security requirements into all the mandates it issues. It is our firm conviction that the challenge does not lie in the lack of an appropriate legal framework but in the increasing lack of respect for humanitarian law and its principles. In this regard, Greece joined the Global Initiative to Galvanize Political Commitment to International Humanitarian Law, launched by the ICRC to address the erosion of respect for international humanitarian law, and endorsed the Declaration for the Protection of Humanitarian Personnel, initiated by Australia. Resolution 2730 (2024) sends a powerful message of the moral imperative to reverse the terrifying trend of mounting humanitarian worker casualties and of the need to have the operational agility to protect them. We, as members of the Security Council, have to ensure that humanitarian workers fulfil their duty in safety and dignity, and with the protection they deserve.

I thank Under-Secretary-General Tom Fletcher, Under- Secretary-General Gilles Michaud and Permanent Observer of the International Committee of the Red Cross Elyse Nicole Mosquini for their complementary and most valuable briefings, encompassing the various dimensions of the subject. We also welcome the Permanent Representative of Switzerland to this meeting. Today’s discussion is about more than the safety of humanitarian workers and United Nations personnel. It is about whether the international community is prepared to defend those who stand between civilians and catastrophes. Humanitarian workers and United Nations personnel, including peacekeepers, serve in the harshest and most dangerous environments. They deliver food, medicine and shelter. They sustain United Nations mandates on the ground, and they help to preserve the minimum conditions necessary for the protection of civilians. Therefore, when they are attacked, obstructed or intimidated, it is the civilians who suffer the most. The continued rise in attacks against humanitarian and United Nations personnel reflects a dangerous erosion of respect for international law. These are not isolated incidents. They are part of a broader pattern in which the norms governing armed conflict are being ignored with alarming frequency and impunity. If those who carry out humanitarian action and United Nations responsibilities are no longer protected, then the entire edifice of civilian protection is weakened. That is why resolution 2730 (2024) reaffirmed the obligation of all parties to armed conflict to respect and protect humanitarian workers, including local aid workers and United Nations personnel. The Secretary-General’s recommendations have provided a useful framework for follow-up. What is needed now is implementation with seriousness, urgency and consistency. Allow me to make the following points in this regard. First, the starting point must be the implementation of international humanitarian law. Humanitarian workers and United Nations personnel, including peacekeepers, must be respected and protected in all circumstances. Secondly, accountability must be strengthened. Impunity only invites repetition. When such attacks are not met with consequences, the result is predictable. Violations increase and risks deepen. Investigations must therefore be prompt, impartial, transparent and effective. Perpetrators must be identified and held accountable. Thirdly, when threats to humanitarian and United Nations personnel become widespread or systematic in situations on the Council’s agenda, the Council must respond credibly. In this regard, the implementation of resolution 2730 (2024) must be fully operationalized through practical measures under United Nations auspices — three-pronged measures, I would say — to improve monitoring of attacks, reporting on trends and follow-up on investigations. Fourthly, protection must be better integrated into operational planning. Humanitarian personnel and United Nations staff are often most vulnerable during mission transitions, peacekeeping drawdowns and rapidly deteriorating security conditions. These periods require anticipatory planning, adequate resources and close coordination among all stakeholders. Fifthly, humanitarian access must be protected from both physical attack and administrative obstruction. Bureaucratic restrictions, visa delays, customs blockages, communication disruptions and other overly restrictive measures can all paralyze lifesaving work. Humanitarian exemptions must therefore be clear and workable. Finally, we must comprehensively address the challenges posed by disinformation, misinformation and incitement that create hostility towards humanitarian actors and United Nations personnel. It goes without saying that the impact of all the above actions and many of the pertinent proposals and ideas put forward by colleagues around the table will be reinforced if the Council could do better on conflict prevention, resolution, mediation and early action, as the Ambassador of Liberia emphasized, all to promote the peaceful settlement of disputes, in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations. But in the meanwhile, those who protect civilians must not themselves be left unprotected. Pakistan remains passionately committed to supporting all efforts aimed at strengthening the safety, security and dignity of humanitarian workers, United Nations staff and peacekeepers, and we are ready and willing to work with all members of the Council and the wider United Nations membership to collectively advance practical measures in this regard.

I thank you, Mr. President, for convening this meeting to address an issue of great sensitivity to us all. We are grateful for the briefings by Tom Fletcher, Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs; Gilles Michaud, Under-Secretary-General for Safety and Security; and Ms. Elyse Nicole Mosquini, Permanent Observer and Head of the Delegation of the International Committee of the Red Cross to the United Nations. They were not only informative but also moving. I would also like to extend a warm welcome to the representative of Switzerland, who has extensive knowledge of the matter before us and who honours us with her participation. Resolution 2730 (2024) draws our attention to a fact that is widely recognized by the international community. The legal framework for the protection of civilians exists and is robust and provides sufficient guidance. The key challenge lies in its effective implementation. In this context, respect for the Geneva Conventions takes on fundamental importance. These universally accepted norms reflect the minimum consensus on the need to preserve human dignity, even in brutal circumstances, such as those of war. Complying with them is not only a legal obligation but also an ethical imperative. Failing to comply with them, conversely, must trigger accountability mechanisms at the international level, reminding us that accountability is an essential component in maintaining the international legal order and preventing impunity. The recent conflicts around the world highlight a widening gap between the commitments made and their implementation on the ground. When States and other actors in conflict not only opt for violence and escalation but also choose to use starvation and obstruct access to drinking water, humanitarian medical assistance and education, with utter contempt for the basic norms of international humanitarian law, civilians are always the ones who pay the price. In this regard, it is worth reiterating what should be obvious to all those affected by armed conflict, who share the same dignity and the same rights, from the Sudan to Gaza, in Haiti or Israel, from Ukraine to Iran: the human consequences of war deserve a response based on equality and not selective conditions. Likewise, civilian infrastructure must never be the target of attacks. Schools, hospitals, bridges, essential water services, electrical infrastructure and transport systems are essential pillars of a dignified life. Equally, from the shocking statements shared by the briefers, backed by conclusive figures and including moving accounts of the sacrifices made by victims among humanitarian workers of the United Nations and other humanitarian aid agencies, it is impossible not to conclude, with a degree of shame, that we undoubtedly have the obligation to make greater efforts to ensure the safety of the humanitarian and medical personnel working to save lives in conditions of high risk to their safety, in the field, hospitals, healthcare centres and ambulances. We know that their work is essential to sustaining life and health in conflicts, not merely because it is a legal matter, which in fact it is, but because it is a matter of basic humanity. Unfortunately, we have seen in many cases that, on the contrary, they are the deliberate targets of attacks. All this is not only despicable but must lead to serious consequences. Seafarers and the crews of merchant ships are also members of the civilian population and, in conflict contexts, run the risk of becoming stranded in the middle of a war or of being affected in an even more serious manner, as we are seeing in the Strait of Hormuz. Guaranteeing their safety is therefore an integral part of our responsibility. The most effective way to protect the civilian population is to prevent war, refrain from special operations or military incursions that only fuel conflicts, avoid exploiting local tensions for economic or geopolitical interests and, above all, always prioritize and resume dialogue and diplomacy. While force is being used, no norm, treaty or convention will be able to prevent civilians from suffering, in one way or another, the consequences of war. Making progress on the protection of civilians requires a renewed commitment to consistency, responsibility and absolute respect for international law. Implementing this in armed conflicts is neither optional nor an abstract aspiration; it is a clear, unavoidable and universal obligation. Only through consistent observance and compliance with international provisions will it be possible to reduce the gap between norms and reality, thereby strengthening the credibility of the international system as a whole.

I shall now make a statement in my capacity as the representative of Bahrain. (spoke in Arabic) At the outset, I would like to express my sincere thanks and appreciation to Mr. Tom Fletcher, Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator; Mr. Gilles Michaud, Under-Secretary-General for Safety and Security; and Ms. Elyse Nicole Mosquini, Permanent Observer and Head of the International Committee of the Red Cross Delegation to the United Nations for their valuable and important briefings. I welcome the participation of the Permanent Representative of Switzerland in our meeting today. Almost two years have passed since the adoption of resolution 2730 (2024), which the Kingdom of Bahrain co-sponsored at the time with 97 other States. The resolution affirms that any attack against humanitarian workers and United Nations personnel constitutes an attack against humanity. However, in 2026 we continue to see serious threats that affect and even take the lives of humanitarian workers, including incidents affecting the World Food Programme in the Sudan and South Sudan and the deaths of many staff members of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East in Gaza and peacekeepers in Lebanon. This comes in addition to the continued detention of United Nations personnel by the Houthis in Yemen and other examples in many countries that are still witnessing conflicts, such as the Sudan, Lebanon, South Sudan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Myanmar. In this context, I would like to focus on three main points today. First, resolution 2730 (2024) emphasizes the importance of the legal protection of humanitarian workers and United Nations personnel. However, although this framework is clear, its effectiveness remains contingent on the commitment of all parties to conflicts. In areas controlled by armed groups and terrorist organizations, the commitment of parties to conflicts to the fundamental principles of international humanitarian law and to the provisions of the Charter of the United Nations often remains superficial, merely ink on paper without actual implementation on the ground. As a result, humanitarian workers continue to face direct and persistent threats. Secondly, emerging technologies, including drones, pose threats to humanitarian workers and may impede their tasks and operations, which requires the international community to develop new mechanisms to protect humanitarian workers in a manner commensurate with existing and future challenges. In general, disinformation poses a significant threat to the safety of personnel involved in humanitarian and United Nations operations. Its dissemination must therefore be tackled and prevented, as set out in the recommendations contained in the Secretary-General’s letter contained in document S/2024/852. In 2025, 76 per cent of peacekeepers reported that disinformation had compromised their safety and that artificial intelligence could be misused to facilitate its propagation. Thirdly, ensuring urgent and unimpeded access to humanitarian aid for communities is essential, as armed groups may attempt to exploit restrictions on access to take control of, or monitor, aid supplies, putting humanitarian workers in danger. The situation is further complicated when terrorist organizations establish parallel aid channels, which hampers humanitarian operations. In 2025, it was estimated that more than 200 million people were living under the control of armed groups, exacerbating the challenge of delivering aid, particularly given the United Nations plan to reduce peacekeeping forces by 25 per cent as a cost-cutting measure. We therefore anticipate an increase in threats in the future. Accordingly, we emphasize the need to ensure that humanitarian aid reaches affected communities safely and as a matter of urgency. It is no secret that relief efforts in many parts of the world have been affected by the unprovoked, irresponsible and unjustified Iranian aggression to which my country, countries of the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf and Jordan have been subjected since 28 February, as have other countries in the region, in clear violation of resolution 2817 (2026). In conclusion, the Kingdom of Bahrain commends international efforts and contributions aimed at supporting humanitarian operations and upholding humanitarian principles in accordance with international humanitarian law and the Charter of the United Nations. (spoke in English) I resume my functions as President of the Council. I now give the floor to the representative of Switzerland.

I thank you, Mr. President, for honouring us by involving us in this meeting of crucial importance, and I join others in thanking Under-Secretaries-General Fletcher and Michaud and the Head of the Delegation of the International Committee of the Red Cross to the United Nations, Ms. Mosquini, not only for their crystal clear statements but also for their valiant endeavours with their teams on the ground. As a former member of the Council, I extend particular thanks to Mr. Michaud, whose term of office is coming to an end, for ensuring our safety during the Council’s travel. In May 2024, Switzerland proposed that the Council adopt a resolution on the protection of humanitarian and United Nations personnel — resolution 2730 (2024), backed by a hundred or so co-sponsors — because the upsurge in attacks against those tasked with protecting the civilian population in conflict settings was already a cause for alarm two years ago. Six months later, in November 2024, the Secretary-General put forward recommendations on the subject (S/2024/852). More than 100 States and the humanitarian organizations reaffirmed their political convictions, encapsulating them in the plainest of terms: (spoke in English) Wars have rules, and civilians are not a target. (spoke in French) And international humanitarian law could not be clearer. In my view, in order to counter the noise from opposing narratives, it bears repeating that the targeting of civilian objects such as hospitals and civilian infrastructure is prohibited. Humanitarian convoys must be able to move around safely, and humanitarian and United Nations personnel, including locally recruited personnel, must be respected and protected at all times and in all circumstances. Whereas the state of affairs was already alarming two years ago, the situation on the ground, as we have heard, is now downright catastrophic. The figures and the incidents for the past month alone, as we have heard, so attest: a UNICEF staff member killed in Goma; medical facilities struck in Ukraine and the Sudan; dozens of healthcare workers killed in Lebanon and repeated attacks against the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon, which have claimed the lives of three peacekeepers. We condemn all those attacks, irrespective of where they took place and who perpetrated them. The rules of international humanitarian law are the same for everyone, and our sincere thoughts are with the victims and their families. Despite the mounting dangers, humanitarian and United Nations workers continue to provide, on a daily basis and often in the most treacherous of circumstances, lifesaving aid to vulnerable communities in a display of valour, dedication and resilience that commands our deep respect. But our admiration does not suffice. The proliferation of attacks on humanitarian and United Nations personnel has egregious consequences, as we have heard. It undermines the entire civilian protection regime and sends a dangerous message that humanitarian workers have become acceptable targets, thus corroding our humanity. Resolution 2730 (2024) was adopted specifically to counter this insidious tendency. We must finally ensure that it is fully implemented as a matter of urgency. The Security Council bears particular responsibility and must resume its paramount task of ensuring security. But aside the Council, all States have a part to play. First, as political actors, all States must bring their influence to bear to prevent conflict, and when conflict breaks out, they must enforce international humanitarian law. Secondly, as parties to conflict or backers of armed actors, States must ensure that their forces or partners abide scrupulously by international humanitarian law. That includes ensuring swift, safe and unimpeded humanitarian access. Every incident must be subject to focused, credible investigations and appropriate measures. Impunity must never prevail. And lastly, as donors, States must ensure flexible and sufficient humanitarian funding. That includes the necessary resources to guarantee the safety of humanitarian personnel, particularly local actors, who are the backbone of humanitarian action and often find themselves on the front line. Switzerland is striving to that end and is working on a guide aimed at translating those obligations into national frameworks, which we will disseminate in the near future. The best protection for civilians and humanitarian workers remains the prevention of conflicts, which are resolved not through weapons but through dialogue, mediation and diplomacy. Switzerland therefore calls on the Security Council and all United Nations Member States to remain engaged. We will pursue our efforts to ensure that diplomacy prevails and to actively support the implementation of resolution 2730 (2024), including through the Protection of Civilians Week to be held from 18 to 22 May. The majority of the global population has no desire for war or civilian casualties. The fact that countless young people are prepared to get actively involved, as last week’s Circle of Young Humanitarians summit in Geneva has shown, gives us hope but, above all, compels us to live up to our responsibilities.

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