Local Editor
Iran’s UN envoy condemned the increase in the number of attacks on clinical centers in war torn areas, especially in countries like Palestine, Afghanistan, Yemen, and Syria. Gholamali Khoshroo, the Permanent Representative of the Islamic Republic of Iran at UN headquarters in New York, denounced the justifications presented after bombings and attacks as inadvertent mistakes.
“Attacks against medical workers and facilities as well as the humanitarian convoys delivering medical supplies, have increased since the adoption of the resolution. Only in 2016, attacks on health care facilities, health workers, ambulances and patients has occurred in 23 countries under these conditions. These attacks are taking place in various places around the world, but in terms of frequency and ferocity, such attacks in the Middle East are more prevalent,” said Khoshroo during his address at the at UN headquarters in New York.
“We condemn all the attacks that have taken place against medical and humanitarian staff, facilities and means of transport throughout the world especially in Palestine, Afghanistan, Yemen and Syria,” he added.
The Iranian official dismissed claims by the US and Saudi-led coalitions that medical centers were targeted by mistake saying that “It is difficult to understand how it is possible that, at a time of high-tech and high precision modern bombs, “mistakes” could happen so frequently targeting medical facilities and personnel in areas of armed conflict. Hospitals are public facilities, whose locations are well known by all parties to the conflict and necessary protocols are in place to avoid bombing them. Unfortunately, such incidents keep occurring and the perpetrators continue to claim that they are simply mistakes.”
Khoshroo highlighted “The Saudi led aggression in Yemen since March 2015, has led to many well documented war crimes, including the destruction of much civilian infrastructure, including medical facilities and this aggression continues unabated under the watch of this Council. Worse even, this unfortunate misadventure is enjoying the ever increasing military, logistical and training support of the United States and its air force.”
The Iranian diplomat called for the need for “greater efforts to document and analyze all incidents that affect the security and wellbeing of health-care workers and facilities, and ensure that impartial, independent and prompt investigations are carried out and that those who are found to be perpetrating such acts are brought to justice,” urging the United Nations Security Council to “abandon its double standards when it comes to bombing humanitarian and health facilities and workers. By highlighting some attacks and remaining silent on others, the Council discredits its own resolutions, specially 2286.”
Source: News Agencies, Edited by Website Team
