An ambulance during a transport operation, in Lebanon. (Credit: Michel Hallak)
The Lebanese Red Cross (LRC) on Tuesday condemned "the targeting of its volunteer teams while they were on rescue missions," saying in a statement that "sites are being bombarded even while rescuers are present, exposing them to great dangers."
The LRC said that "four of its rescuers have already been injured at two locations: two were wounded during the night of Saturday, March 7, in the village of Arnoun [Nabatieh district], and two others on the night of Monday, March 9, in Majdal Zoun, in the Sour district." The organization noted that the identities of these volunteers and their affiliation with the LRC were clear, given the presence of ambulances with sirens on, and that routine coordination with UNIFIL had indeed been carried out to ensure the safety of their route to the bombed sites.
In its statement, the LRC reaffirmed the need to respect all international conventions and the fundamental principles of the Red Cross and mission, particularly the principle of neutrality, demanding protection for its teams of volunteers as they carry out their missions.
